Averill's Viking Creek Wetland Preserve

The Whitefish Lake Institute owns and manages the Averill's Viking Creek Wetland Preserve, a 30 acre parcel near the shores of Whitefish Lake that serves as a kidney in protecting water quality in Viking Creek and Whitefish Lake.





The Averill's Viking Creek Wetland Preserve was a component of the Viking Creek Development proposal. The addition of the wetland preserve to the development proposal was the result of two years of negotiations between the Averill Family, the Friends of Wisconsin Avenue Wetlands, and the Whitefish Lake Institute. Concerns about the health of the wetlands and previous proposals calling for high density development were the impetus to our involvement. Touted as an example for how other developers can approach projects in the future, the proposal was unanimously passed by Whitefish Planning Board and the Whitefish City Council.





The Whitefish Lake Institute's management approach will be to preserve this area in perpetuity for water quality and wildlife value. This is a unique wetland area consisting of a spruce/skunk cabbage ecosystem. There are also areas of wetland/upland mosaics that contain a rich diversity of plant and animal species. Located next to the Margaret Murdock Nature Conservancy Easement, the wetlands are part of a contiguous 250 acre area that provides habitat to aquatic, terrestrial and avian wildlife.

An interpretive nature trail will open in the area in 2011. The trail network will dovetail to the City of Whitefish "Fish Trails" that runs along Wisconsin Avenue. Interpretive signage will be displayed throughout the trail system to inform the public on the various facets of the wetlands.