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Ashland WI Harbor
Photo credit: Kathryn H. Lederhause
Sheboygan Beach
- Contact information
- For more information, please contact:
-
Steve Galarneau
Director, Office of Great Waters
608-266-1956
Wisconsin's Great Lakes Strategy
The Great Lakes contain 20 percent 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. Effective management of both wetland and water quantity and quality is necessary if we are to fulfill Wisconsin's stewardship obligations for these world class resources.
In 2006, the DNR's Office of the Great Lakes, with the help of countless individuals and organizations, developed a Wisconsin's Great Lake Strategy - a Wisconsin-specific strategy to parallel the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy. The Strategy brought together information from previous planning efforts and serves as a comprehensive state action agenda for coordinating and allocating resources. The plan better positions Wisconsin to project implementation agency program and project goals and objects, including those initiatives funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI).
The Strategy is, and rightfully needs to be, a dynamic document. The Office of the Great Lakes (now called the Office of Great Waters) 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 details to help support and implement the recommended action items of the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy. The Office of Great Waters helps develop projects and secure funding to restore and protect the Great Lakes in Wisconsin. As restoration monies become available, it will be important to promote and utilize existing mechanisms for accomplishing projects. Partnerships will play a key role in achieving the Strategy goals.
Specific examples of project proposals for implementing Wisconsin's Great Lakes Strategy can be found in the 2009 updated strategy document below. Please note: this document is not intended to be a comprehensive list of implementation projects and is subject to change.
- 2017-2019 DNR Action Plan for Lake Superior [PDF]
- 2015-2019 Lake Superior Lakewide Action and Management Plan [PDF]
- 2008 Lake Michigan Lakewide Action and Management Plan [PDF]
- Wisconsin's Great Lakes Strategy 2009 update [PDF]
- 2006 Wisconsin's Great Lakes Restoration and Protection Strategy [PDF]
- DNR Testimony about Restoration Plan by Todd Ambs [PDF]
- Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
- Wisconsin's Great Lakes Strategy Brochure [PDF]
