August 5, 2026
SVSU secures lead gifts for Lake Huron Environmental Science Research Station
With gifts from four local foundations, Saginaw Valley State University is making headway in its efforts to strengthen the understanding of ecosystem dynamics on Lake Huron. Grants from the Saginaw Community Foundation, Bay Area Community Foundation, Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation and the Charles J. Strosacker Foundation will support the construction of the SVSU Lake Huron Environmental Science Research Station, a multi-million-dollar facility on the shore of the Saginaw River where it meets Saginaw Bay.
The proposed research station will be the first university-operated research station on Lake Huron. The multipurpose facility will support academic activities for SVSU students, educational activities for K-12 students and research opportunities for citizen scientists.
SVSU already engages in extensive water research in the Saginaw Bay watershed. The proposed Lake Huron Environmental Research Station will expand opportunities for the university to collaborate with local, state and federal partners, including public health departments, Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and others. Research and educational programs will focus on freshwater ecosystems within Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron and the surrounding watershed.
The Saginaw Community Foundation committed the first gift to the research station earlier this year. The gift was made from Carl H., Jr. and Sandra Werth Fund held by SCF. SVSU will recognize the gift by naming the Carl and Sandra Werth Mesocosm Laboratory in their honor. This lab will contain an experimental water enclosure to simulate natural ecosystems in a controlled environment.
“With the Lake Huron Environmental Science Research Station, Saginaw Valley State University will continue to advance academic rigor, community enrichment and collaborative partnerships that benefit the Great Lakes Bay Region and beyond. The Saginaw Community Foundation is proud to support this important endeavor,” said Reneé Johnston, SCF president.
The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation awarded a grant in the amount of $750,000 to support the research station.
“The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation is proud to support the Lake Huron Environmental Science Research Station at Saginaw Valley State University. This initiative strengthens the scientific vitality of our region, expands opportunities for students, and deepens our shared understanding of the Great Lakes ecosystem that sustains our communities,” said Ruth Doan, Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation board president. “We value SVSU’s commitment to rigorous research and public service, and we are confident that this station will advance knowledge for the benefit of Michigan today and for generations to come.”
The Charles J. Strosacker Foundation has made a gift of $75,000 to support the initiative, and the Bay Area Community Foundation has granted SVSU $20,000 from the Community Initiative Fund to support the project.
SVSU will commit University resources of $2.5 million from capital project reserves and has received federal funding for the project. Fundraising efforts are ongoing to support construction and programming for the Lake Huron Environmental Science Research Station.
SVSU plans to proceed with groundbreaking following construction approval by the Michigan legislature.