Economics
Scenic beauty and relaxation were the top reasons tourists gave for visiting Wisconsin and spending $11.4 billion in the state in 2001. Tourism supported 380,000 full-time jobs and generated nearly $1.8 billion in revenues for state and local governments. Without state and local revenues yielded from travel expenditures, each household would have to pay an additional $932 in taxes to maintain existing services.
Sport fishing alone in Wisconsin generates a $2.3 billion economic impact in Wisconsin, supports more than 26,0000 jobs, and generates $90 million in state sales, income and fuel taxes to help pay for important state services such as health care and education.
Industry and agriculture count on ample supplies of clean water. Dairy farms, fruit and vegetable processors, brewers and cheese makers all need clean water to operate.
Wisconsin uses a total of more than 7 billion gallons of water per day, about 80 percent of it to produce electricity.
Wisconsin’s 50 fossil fuel power plants use nearly 4 billion gallons of water per day. The state’s two nuclear power plants use about 2 billion gallons daily.
Wisconsin farmers now irrigate more than 340,000 acres, three times the number of acres they irrigated in 1969.
400 Wisconsin business executives surveyed in 2000 on Wisconsin’s business climate gave Wisconsin its highest rankings relative to other states for its quality of life, government services, and loyalty to area. "Availability" and "quality of water" were the highest ranked quality of life topics.
Assessed property values increased the most in northern Wisconsin in 2001, fueled by vacation, retirement and resort property growth. Fifteen counties recording double-digit percentage increases were led by water-rich counties: Menominee (16.9 %), Bayfield (15.8 %), Sawyer (15.3 %), St. Croix (15 %), and Burnett (14.1 %). Surveys consistently document that water-based recreation is an important factor in attracting recreational and retiring homeowners.
The assessed value of Lake Michigan lake shore property in just one Wisconsin county—Door County—is almost $2 billion.
Each year, Wisconsin’s 12 active harbors on Lakes Michigan and Superior handle a total of more than 40 million tons (40 billion kilograms) of commodities valued at more than $7 billion.
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