Wisconsin´s Great Lakes Strategy

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

The Great Lakes contain 20% of the world´s available fresh surface water supply. Because of that, the Great Lakes are critical to the health and welfare of all the Great Lakes states and especially for us here in Wisconsin. Effective management of both wetland and water quantity and quality is necessary if we are to fulfill our state´s stewardship obligations for these world class resources.

In 2006, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Office of the Great Lakes, with the help of countless individuals and organizations, began developing a Wisconsin specific strategy to parallel the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy. Called the Wisconsin´s Great Lakes Strategy (Strategy), it brought together information from the various past planning efforts to build a comprehensive state action agenda. The Strategy will serve as the vehicle for coordinating and allocating resources and will better position Wisconsin to begin program and project implementation in the event that significant funding comes from the US Congress for the restoration of the Great Lakes.

The Strategy is, and rightfully needs to be, a dynamic document. The Office of the Great Lakes began seeking input for an update in the fall of 2008 relying on both internal and external partners to provide input on new issues and priorities. The updated Strategy reflects these changes and recommended actions since 2006, including recognition of the potential impacts from a changing climate.

Implementation of Wisconsin´s Great Lakes Strategy

Wisconsin´s Great Lakes Strategy provides the necessary specifics to help support and implement the recommended action items of the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration in Wisconsin. The Office of the Great Lakes will seek a facilitative role in project development for the restoration and protection of the Great Lakes in Wisconsin. As restoration monies become available, it will be important to promote and utilize existing mechanisms for accomplishing projects. Existing partnerships such as the Lake Superior Binational Forum will play a key role in striving to achieve the goals articulated in the Strategy. Specific examples of project proposals for implementing Wisconsin´s Great Lakes Strategy can be found in the document below. Please be aware that this is not intended to be a comprehensive list of implementation projects and is subject to change.

Contact Information

Comments should be forwarded to:

Kate Barrett
Office of the Great Lakes, WDNR
PO Box 7921
Madison WI 53707-7921

Last Revised: Thursday October 01 2009