Wisconsin Great Lakes Chronicle
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Wisconsin Great La kes Chronicle 2011 COntents Foreword . .1 Governor Scott Walker Wisconsin Ports are Strong Economic Engines . .2 Jason Serck Wisconsin’s Coastal Counties: Demographic Trends . .4 David Egan-Robertson Wisconsin’s Clean Marina Program . .6 Victoria Harris and Jon Kukuk Milwaukee’s Second Shoreline: The Milwaukee River Greenway . .8 Ann Brummitt Chequamegon Bay Area Partnership . .10 Ed Morales Bradford Beach: Jewel of Milwaukee’s Emerald Necklace . .12 Laura Schloesser Restoring Wild Rice in Allouez Bay . .14 Amy Eliot 2011 Wisconsin Coastal Management Program Grants . .16 Acknowledgements . .20 On the Cover Port Washington Foreword Governor Scott Walker Dear Friends of the Great Lakes, Promoting economic Fishing. Whether for sport or commercial, fishing Commerce and Shipping. Great Lakes shipping development and jobs is is big business in Wisconsin. With 1.4 million connects Wisconsin and interior United States a top priority for my licenses issued annually, sport fishing generates companies to world markets. More than $8 billion administration. Our $2.75 billion in economic impact and 30,000 jobs. of commerce move through Wisconsin’s Great Great Lakes are a The approximately 70 licensed commercial fishers Lakes and Mississippi River ports. In 2010, US flag tremendous natural on Lake Michigan and Lake Superior recently took shipping on the Great Lakes rebounded 35% over resource that gives in harvests with a wholesale value of around $5 2009 levels, a trend that will continue to support people reason to live in, million. Clean and healthy waters for fish habitat thousands of port related jobs in Wisconsin. visit and do business in are good business. We are improving our fish Shipbuilding. Wisconsin is home to world famous our state. As such, Lakes habitats and further promoting sport fishing. ship builders and dozens of smaller builders that Michigan and Superior Marinas. Over 240 marinas and hundreds of boat contribute over $1 billion in economic output and are economic and job drivers for Wisconsin. dealerships in Wisconsin generate thousands of 3,500 maritime jobs. Two large projects underway Tourism. Wisconsin’s $13 billion annual tourism jobs and millions of dollars of economic activity in Marinette include the building of the Sikuliaq industry is a significant part of our state’s economic annually. Designated “Clean Marinas” attract for the National Science Foundation and two US foundation. Tourism supports nearly 300,000 jobs boaters who prefer businesses that protect the Navy combat ships. Wisconsin companies will and generates hundreds of millions of dollars in tax environment. Participating marinas benefit from continue to be leaders in commercial and military revenues for needed public services. Beaches, water cost savings from reduced hazardous waste ship building. recreation and related water activities contribute to disposal, fewer pollutant clean-ups, lower insurance The Great Lakes are central to our social and $5 billion of tourism spending in coastal counties. rates and reduced potential for violations and fines. economic development and are a natural resource We must ensure that travelers and recreational Beaches. Each beach visitor can bring up to $50 of irreplaceable value. Wisconsin continues to tourists choose Wisconsin for fun and relaxation. per person per day to the local economy. Therefore, enhance the natural and economic potential of its To that end, we will continue to market and invest one beach closure can cause thousands of lost coastal resources through local, state, federal and in the health of our coastal resources. revenue. Beach health is critical for our economy, private organizations and resources. This year’s and during my tenure as Milwaukee County Wisconsin Great Lakes Chronicle details projects Executive Milwaukee’s Bradford Beach—and three that benefited from the collaborative efforts of Apostle Islands beaches on Lake Superior—joined numerous partners dedicated to Lake Michigan Racine’s North Beach as Blue Wave certified, the and Lake Superior. national environmental certification for beaches. wisconsin G reat La kes C hronicle 2010 | page 1 wisConsin Ports are stronG wisconsin’s commercial eConomiC enGines ports move commodities Jason Serck to world markets and A 2007 report issued by the US Army Corps of The Port connects two railroads, the Interstate Engineers estimates that over $8 billion of cargo highway system, over 300,000 square feet of support thousands of jobs pass annually through Wisconsin’s Great Lakes warehouse space and acres of storage areas with and Mississippi River ports. Wisconsin’s domestic and international shipping. Milwaukee for wisconsin families. commercial ports are economic engines that move handles the third largest volume of grain on the commerce from the United States to world Great Lakes, and also moves coal, general cargo, markets and support thousands of jobs for iron, cement, sand, salt and limestone. Wisconsin families. The Port of Milwaukee offers more than general The Wisconsin Department of Transportation cargo handling. The Port is emerging as a major (WisDOT) cites industry data demonstrating the transport point for high-tech wind energy efficiency of maritime commerce. A barge uses a equipment. In addition, the Lake Express high single gallon of fuel to move one ton of freight speed ferry makes seasonal trips between 576 miles. In contrast, railroads can transport at a Milwaukee and Muskegon, Michigan. The Lake rate of only 413 ton-miles per gallon; trucks are Express , offers two and one-half hour trips for estimated at 155 ton-miles per gallon. passengers and automobiles across Lake Michigan. Wisconsin’s location on two Great Lakes provides Manitowoc. The Port of Manitowoc plays a significant advantages that have structured our smaller, but critical, role for Great Lakes history and economy. The same WisDOT report commerce. Manitowoc handles more than estimates that Wisconsin commercial ports in 350,000 tons of cement, rock, stone, coal and 2008 supported nearly 10,000 jobs and $462 wood annually, and provides 91,000 square feet million in wages and salaries. In total, Wisconsin of warehouse space. ports created over $1.6 billion of economic Manitowoc is home to Burger Boat Company, a activity in 2008. manufacturer of custom yachts serving customers In addition to scores of small marinas and around the world. Burger is the oldest yacht harbors, Wisconsin’s Great Lakes infrastructure is builder in America with a history dating back to based on six major ports on Lake Michigan and 1863. Manitowoc is also the home port of the Superior: Milwaukee, Manitowoc, Sturgeon Bay, S.S. Badger , a 410 foot passenger and car ferry Green Bay, Marinette and Superior. that makes seasonal trips to Ludington, Michigan. The S.S. Badger is the only coal-fired Milwaukee. The Port of Milwaukee handles an steamship operating in the United States. average of 3.64 million tons of cargo annually. wisconsin G reat La kes C hronicle 2011 | page 2 Sturgeon Bay. The Port of Sturgeon Bay is known worldwide for its ship building and ship repair facilities. Bay Shipbuilding is a leading manufacturer of Great Lakes bulk and cargo ships; many of the 1,000 self-unloading carriers in operation on the Lakes were constructed by Bay Shipbuilding at its Sturgeon Bay yards. Palmer Johnson builds luxury yachts in Sturgeon Bay for domestic and international customers. The company—which began as a builder of wooden fishing boats—has been in operation for more than ninety years. Green Bay. The Port of Green Bay connects domestic and international markets through The Port is also home to Marinette Marine Duluth-Superior is a regular port of call for maritime, rail and highway shipping. Several Corporation, a manufacturer of large, customized foreign and domestic cruise ships. Duluth- major trucking firms are located in the Green Bay ships used around the world. Marinette Marine Superior is among the 20 largest cargo handling area and offer direct links to the Port for the builds high-tech ships for government customers ports in the United States, and more than 2,000 movement of regional commerce. including the US Navy and US Coast Guard. jobs in the region are tied to Port operations. The Navy Littoral Combat Ship, Coast Guard The Port annually handles more than 2.5 million Wisconsin’s economy has developed since before Great Lakes Icebreaker Mackinaw and Staten tons of cargo including coal, limestone, iron, statehood because of its abundant natural Island ferries were all built in Marinette. cement salt and bulk liquids. In addition, Green resources and commercial routes. The state’s Bay operates 400,000 square feet of warehouse Superior. The Port of Duluth-Superior is the commercial ports remain economic engines that space and 100 acres for the storage of general largest port on the Great Lakes. The Port annually serve not only Wisconsin communities, but also and bulk shipments. The Port can also handle handles more than 45 million tons of cargo the iron mines of Minnesota, coal fields of 30,000 tons of agricultural commodities in its including iron ore, coal, grain, cement, limestone Montana and wheat farmers of the Great Plains silo facilities. and salt. More than 1,100 ships annually make and Canada. port in Duluth-Superior to transport goods and Marinette. The Port of Marinette provides both Jason Serck is Planning Director for the City of Superior and commodities around the world. cargo handling and ship building operations. Immediate Past President of