Friends of the St. Clair River recently hosted public input sessions to welcome feedback from community partners and local leaders who have been a part of its mission. Tackling the evolving work of restoring, protecting and enhancing the St. Clair River and its watershed is no small task. It takes a lot of “friends” of the organization. 

“We are so grateful to have the number of committed stakeholders who have invested in Friends,” noted Executive Director Sheri Faust. “It is crucial for us to get their input to make sure we’re going about our mission in a way that reaches them effectively. Friends must continue to build on its environmental impact, but part of that success has been due to the relationships developed through the programs we offer.”

Across the sessions, several themes emerged. Participants encouraged the organization to increase awareness, expand community participation, strengthen education and promote itself more boldly. While this input acknowledge opportunities for growth, they also reflect the deep affection and pride the community already has for Friends’ work.

Many also noted that the organization’s service area – the broader Thumb Coast region encompassing St. Clair, Sanilac, Macomb, and Lapeer counties – deserves clearer definition and outreach. Several participants pointed out, “Many people don’t know what a watershed is!”

Still, the programs people most connected with speak for themselves: native habitat restoration, river cleanups, community gardens, sturgeon research and education, and efforts to monitor and protect the overall health of the St. Clair River. Each program has drawn a network of “friends” that continues to grow.

Dr. Cassie Briggs, a science career coach and longtime supporter, believes the input sessions are strengthening this sense of collective ownership.

“Put simply, when people are invited into the conversation, they become more invested in the outcomes,” Briggs said. “Friends has done a great job welcoming people into their circle, connecting different circles, and being invited into others. Just stop by the Sturgeon Festival and see for yourself. The growth of that festival over the years has been exponential – more vendors, more attendees, more energy, more interest in our state’s most prominent fish.”

Her connection to the organization runs deep; her husband, DNR Fish Biologist Andrew Briggs, was instrumental in early sturgeon efforts. Through that experience and her own work coaching the Friends team, she has watched both the organization and its audience evolve.

“As a coach, I’ve worked with staff to strengthen team communication, public engagement, and goal-setting,” Briggs added. “Friends has a BIG mission, but a SMALL staff. They can’t do it alone – nor would they want to. Their work benefits our shared environment, and many of us have a vested interest in their success. Community buy-in is essential, and the best way to earn that buy-in is to include people.”

Few understand Friends’ evolution better than Lesley Lambright, a founding board member who helped design the very first Sturgeon Festival and has stayed energized in local activism for decades.

“I have been involved as an activist in Port Huron since I moved here, and it has been very worthwhile to serve the community,” Lambright said. “Friends of the St. Clair River has been among the most successful boards I’ve ever served on.”

She attributes that success to a powerful combination: expertise, passion, and genuine collaboration.

“Sheri Faust has gathered a team of excellent experts in the sciences and wonderful volunteers who are committed to safeguarding the St. Clair River and its watershed,” Lambright said. “There have been so many successful actions – from the rain barrel project to community planting, river cleanups, partnerships with Canada, and now being consulted at the state and national level. The more people who know about Friends, the more the organization succeeds. We all become stakeholders.”

The insights gathered during the public input session reaffirm that the community sees environmental stewardship as a shared responsibility – and they want to be part of the work.

This desire aligns beautifully with what Friends hopes to accomplish: providing more hands-on learning opportunities, expanding volunteer pathways, strengthening partnerships, and helping people of all ages understand the interconnectedness of the watershed.

For those inspired to support this work long-term, Friends encourages community members to consider legacy gifts through the Community Foundation of St. Clair County – whether through their endowment held at the Community Foundation, estate planning, life insurance designations, or gifts of appreciated securities.

By supporting Friends of the St. Clair River, donors help ensure the programs, partnerships, and ecosystems nurtured today will continue shaping a healthier, more resilient watershed for the future.

Ultimately, the river’s story is a shared one. Together, with the leadership of Friends of the St. Clair River, this community is writing its next chapter.