FOPPI Volunteers Repair Dock
Seven volunteers with the Friends of Plum and Pilot Islands (FOPPI) departed from Gills Rock aboard The Shoreline on September 18, 2026, to work on the Plum Island pier.
The boat was piloted by Captain Scott Nelson with assistance from his crew member, Doug Smith. Both Nelson and Smith were stationed on Plum Island while serving in the Coast Guard. The Plum Island station was manned until 1990, at which time seasonal operations shifted to the station on Washington Island.
A large flock of double-breasted cormorants was seen roosting on the dock as the boat approached. They left their scented calling cards before departing in the direction of Pilot Island.
Longtime FOPPI member Paul Schumacher ordered a significant quantity of white cedar boards last June from Henschel’s Sawmill located south of Carlsville in Door County. Hoyt Purinton and his sons delivered the lumber to Plum Island earlier this year.
The historic dock is made of timber frame cribs filled with large lake rocks. The heavy timbers support the plank walkway. Because the pier is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, similar materials must be used to replace rotting wood. Regular maintenance of the 1939 structure is required to keep it safe for visitors.
The seven-man crew, ranging in age from 43 to 74, made significant progress on installing new cedar decking.
Plum Island is open daily to the public from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. It is part of the Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
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