The Superior Watershed Partnership and Land Conservancy

What The Superior Watershed Partnership and Land Conservancy does

The Superior Watershed Partnership and Land Conservancy (SWP) is a Michigan-incorporated 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1999 and headquartered in Marquette/Presque Isle, with an 11–50 person staff operating three offices — Main, Climate, and Energy/MEAP — and a 100%-local remit across the 15 counties of Michigan's Upper Peninsula draining to Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, and Lake Huron.

SWP's portfolio is organized around five operational pillars. First, boots-on-the-ground restoration delivered through the Great Lakes Climate Corps (GLCC), Great Lakes Tribal Conservation Corps (GLTCC), and Climate Conservation Corps (CCC), which deploy trained crews for habitat restoration, trail building, and coastal resilience projects. Second, environmental monitoring and research infrastructure including live Lake Superior buoys and webcams, the Stannard Rock Lighthouse research station, the Great Lakes Evaporation Network (GLEN), and the Community Environmental Monitoring Program (CEMP) for the Eagle Nickel and Copper Mine. Third, science-based watershed planning, including EPA-approved watershed management plans and the Salmon Trout Watershed Management Plan associated with a documented 70% increase in Coaster Brook Trout populations. Fourth, residential energy assistance through the Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) plus weatherization and solar programs. Fifth, K-12 environmental education and the Upper Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative delivered in partnership with Northern Michigan University and local schools.

Revenue is non-commercial. SWP operates on a hybrid of federal grants (EPA Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, FEMA, NOAA, US Forest Service, NOAA Office for Coastal Management, NFWF), charitable donations, and limited fee-for-service environmental consulting. Documented grant awards include a $330,000 EPA GLRI for Dead River/Salmon Trout River restoration and a $77,000 EPA GLRI for Lake Superior beach monitoring; nearly $1 million has flowed through the Salmon Trout watershed over the past decade. Strategic partners include the U.S. Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, City of Marquette, Northern Michigan University, Michigan Tech, Marquette Board of Light & Power, Sierra Club, MQT Beautification & Restoration Committee, and Trust for Public Land, coordinated through the Partnering for Watershed Restoration (PWR) steering committee since 2013.

Name

The Superior Watershed Partnership and Land Conservancy

Legal name

Superior Watershed Partnership and Land Conservancy

Website

https://superiorwatersheds.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Superior Watershed Partnership and Land Conservancy is a Marquette, Michigan-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that protects and restores Great Lakes watersheds across the Upper Peninsula through conservation corps crews, environmental monitoring, K-12 education, energy assistance, and land-conservancy services, serving tribal, municipal, educational, and residential beneficiaries with grant and donation funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC), Conservation, Restoration & Biodiversity Services (Habitat, Wetlands, Riparian) (IMAMAJAH), Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)

Keywords

• Watershed conservation services
• Great Lakes restoration
• Habitat protection
• Climate adaptation assistance
• Environmental education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Presque Isle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants and Federal Funding: SWP receives funding through various federal programs including EPA Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), FEMA, US Forest Service, NOAA, and other government agencies for environmental restoration and climate adaptation projects.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization accepts donations from individuals, businesses, and organizations to support environmental programs and conservation efforts.
3. Fee for Service Programs: SWP offers fee-for-service environmental consulting and monitoring services, including the Energy Conservation and Assistance (MEAP) program managing utility assistance applications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Superior Watershed Partnership and Land Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that protects and restores the Great Lakes watersheds of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It delivers on-the-ground conservation corps crews, watershed restoration projects, coastal resiliency programs, climate adaptation planning, land trust acquisitions, environmental monitoring (buoys, webcams, evaporation network), pollution prevention, K-12 environmental education, and residential energy assistance through MEAP.

Product overview

The Superior Watershed Partnership and Land Conservancy operates as a multi-program conservation organization offering environmental services across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The portfolio consists of core conservation corps programs (Great Lakes Climate Corps, Great Lakes Tribal Conservation Corps, Climate Conservation Corps) providing boots-on-ground restoration crews, complemented by specialized service programs including Energy Conservation/MEAP assistance, Coastal Resiliency Assistance, Water Quality/Stormwater Management, Land Conservancy Services, and Pollution Prevention Assistance. Educational offerings include K-12 Environmental Education and the Upper Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative. The organization also maintains environmental monitoring infrastructure through the Community Environmental Monitoring Program (CEMP), Lake Superior Buoys and Webcams, and the Great Lakes Evaporation Network (GLEN). The Partnering for Watershed Restoration (PWR) initiative provides collaborative coordination with federal, tribal, state, and local partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Great Lakes Climate Corps (GLCC): Youth conservation corps program providing trained crew members for environmental projects across the Upper Peninsula, focusing on habitat restoration, trail projects, and conservation work.
• Great Lakes Tribal Conservation Corps (GLTCC)
• Climate Conservation Corps (CCC)
• Partnering for Watershed Restoration (PWR)
• Community Environmental Monitoring Program (CEMP)

Products and services

• Great Lakes Climate Corps (GLCC) A boots-on-the-ground crew program that provides trained crew members for environmental restoration projects spanning the Upper Peninsula, including coastal restoration, habitat protection, trail building, and sustainable tourism.
• Great Lakes Tribal Conservation Corps (GLTCC) A conservation corps program partnering with tribal communities for environmental projects throughout the Upper Peninsula.
• Climate Conservation Corps (CCC) A specialized corps dedicated to climate adaptation projects including coastal dune restoration, coastal wetland restoration, green infrastructure, stormwater management, buffer restoration, and helping communities become more resilient to extreme weather events.
• Energy Conservation and Assistance (MEAP) Manages the Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) application process providing utility bill assistance, heating assistance, weatherization, and solar programs for Upper Peninsula residents, in partnership with Marquette Board of Light & Power.
• Coastal Resiliency Assistance Provides coastal restoration, coastal wetland restoration, and U.P. Coastal Community Initiative support to help communities adapt to coastal erosion and extreme weather events.
• K-12 Environmental Education Hands-on Great Lakes education for K-12 learners connecting students to their local watershed through STEAM-based projects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math), from habitat restoration to solar energy.
• Water Quality and Stormwater Management Environmental monitoring and management services including beach monitoring, stormwater controls, rain barrel programs, and pollution prevention initiatives.
• Land Conservancy Services Land trust services for permanent protection of critical watershed areas, including the protection of over four miles of the Sturgeon River on a 944-acre parcel in the western Upper Peninsula.
• Partnering for Watershed Restoration (PWR) A collaborative initiative of federal, tribal, state and local agencies, academic institutions, non-profits, citizen groups and industry to accelerate watershed restoration through workshops and shared projects.
• Lake Superior Buoys and Webcams Real-time environmental monitoring buoys and webcam systems deployed in Lake Superior for climate research and observation.
• Community Environmental Monitoring Program (CEMP) Precedent-setting community-controlled environmental monitoring of the Eagle Nickel and Copper Mine in Marquette County, providing citizen oversight of industrial resource extraction.
• Pollution Prevention Assistance

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% increase in targeted fish populations (Coaster Brook Trout) in Salmon Trout River since 2002
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• U.S. Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership including Hiawatha National Forest collaboration on habitat restoration, Monarch butterfly conservation, and Sturgeon River watershed protection. The Forest Service participates in PWR steering committee and provides access to federal lands for conservation projects.
• The Nature ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on watershed management plans and conservation projects including the Northern Great Lakes Forest Project and Two Hearted River system conservation.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoastal Program funding for habitat restoration, Monarch butterfly habitat enhancement, and participation in PWR steering committee.
• Keweenaw Bay Indian CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTribal partner for Youth Conservation Corps program, watershed restoration projects, and PWR steering committee. KBIC leads road-stream crossing geodatabase project.
• Northern Michigan UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for climate research, Great Lakes monitoring buoys deployment, and student involvement in environmental projects.
• NOAAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Great Lakes climate research using Stannard Rock Lighthouse and monitoring buoys for water level prediction.
• City of MarquettecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on beach monitoring, pollution prevention, stormwater management, climate adaptation implementation, and rain barrel programs.
• Marquette Board of Light & PowercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) providing utility bill assistance to customers with SWP Energy Office managing the application process.
• Michigan Department of Natural ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Coaster Brook Trout monitoring, fish population studies, and habitat restoration in Salmon Trout River watershed.
• Michigan Technological UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for Coaster Brook Trout population monitoring and research.
• Trust for Public LandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in PWR steering committee for watershed restoration collaboration.
• Hiawatha National ForestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partner on Monarch butterfly habitat restoration, pollinator conservation, and habitat management on National Forest lands.
• Superior District Dental AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on mercury pollution prevention program installing amalgam separators in over 30 dental offices.
• Marquette County Health DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on cigarette butt pollution prevention and storm drain education campaigns.
• Central Upper Peninsula Cooperative Weed Management AreaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on invasive species removal projects and management.
• Upper Peninsula Children's MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Listening to the River education program combining science and digital media for youth.
• Land Information Access AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Listening to the River education program.
• Marquette Community FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Red Bucket community pollution prevention program.
• Fred Waara Chapter of Trout UnlimitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on Morgan Creek access improvement project.
• Marquette County Conservation DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on Morgan Creek access improvement project.
• Michigan Energy OptionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted regional energy forum at Michigan Municipal League Conference.
• Environmental CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner for Great Lakes environmental protection.

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Trout Unlimited: National coldwater fisheries conservation organization with active Michigan chapters focused on trout habitat restoration and dam removal. Already partners with SWP via the Fred Waara Chapter; broader national fundraising footprint.
• National Wildlife Federation (Great Lakes): National wildlife conservation nonprofit with a Great Lakes regional center doing habitat restoration and Great Lakes policy. Comparable mission but at much greater scale and geographic reach.
• The Nature Conservancy (Michigan Chapter): Global environmental nonprofit with a large Michigan chapter that runs land protection, watershed restoration, and conservation finance programs. Already a SWP partner; broader geographic and financial scope gives it incumbent leverage.

Direct peers

• Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council: Northern Michigan watershed protection organization monitoring water quality and habitat in the Lake Charlevoix, Burt Lake, and Mullett Lake watersheds. Closely comparable regional peer with similar watershed-protection mission in Michigan.
• Alliance for the Great Lakes: Chicago-based nonprofit focused on Great Lakes protection through advocacy, volunteer programs, and policy work. Directly comparable as a Great Lakes-focused environmental nonprofit with similar advocacy and citizen-engagement models.
• Huron Pines: Northern Michigan conservation nonprofit focused on natural resource protection, restoration, and conservation education across the Lake Huron watershed. Comparable mission, regional scope, and federal-grant funding model.
• Conservation Resource Alliance: Michigan-based nonprofit focused on river and watershed restoration in northern Lower Peninsula. Comparable boots-on-the-ground restoration work and Michigan geographic focus.

Regional players

• Michigan Environmental Council: Lansing-based statewide environmental policy coalition. Comparable as a Michigan-focused environmental nonprofit, but oriented primarily toward policy advocacy rather than on-the-ground restoration.
• Grand Traverse Conservation District: Michigan conservation district providing watershed planning, habitat restoration, and conservation services in the Grand Traverse region. Comparable in service mix but structured as a government-affiliated district rather than a private nonprofit.

Others

• Great Lakes Commission: Binational U.S.–Canadian agency coordinating Great Lakes policy and programs across the eight states. Comparable in Great Lakes focus but functions as an interstate compact commission rather than a nonprofit operator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/superior-watershed-partnership
• Xx.com/SWPLandTrust

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Superior Watershed Partnership and Land Conservancy