SYMPOSIUM PRESENTER TITLE: Restoration efforts in the lower Green Bay & Fox River Area of Concern ABSTRACT: The Lower Green Bay & Fox River Area of Concern (AOC) was designated in 1987 and encompasses the last 7 miles of the Lower Fox River and 21 mi2 of lower Green Bay. For more than thirty years, a strong coalition of stakeholders coordinated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) has worked to identify and understand the source of several impairments related to contaminated sediment, habitat loss, and water quality degradation, and to develop targets and plans to address those impairments. Following completion of the Lower Fox River PCB Cleanup Project, one of the largest PCB contaminated sediment remediation projects carried out globally, the primary focus is on addressing degraded water quality and habitat loss in the AOC. I will describe plans to implement 12 large-scale habitat restoration projects in the AOC by 2030 anticipated to result in the re-establishment of 300-400 acres of coastal wetland, 40 acres of riparian marsh, 100 acres of wet meadow, and 20 new high-quality fish and native mussel habitat areas, among other improvements. Key messages include reflecting on how local, state, federal, and non-governmental AOC partners are overcoming challenges in implementing large-scale projects on a short timeline, how this effort fits into and complements work beyond the AOC boundaries in Green Bay, and how similar conservation initiatives can benefit by creating additional opportunities for stakeholder engagement. BIO: Brie Kupsky is the Green Bay Program Coordinator at WDNR and coordinates efforts to restore and delist the Lower Green Bay & Fox River Area of Concern (AOC) and Lower Menominee River AOC and leads efforts by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to develop a comprehensive natural resource plan to protect, conserve, and restore the Bay of Green Bay.