Marine sanctuary designation moves forward
- PUBLIC INPUT MEETING: Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Nov. 17
Manitowoc County is expecting more tourists looking to explore the community’s underwater treasures.
On Monday, Oct. 5, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced it will begin the designation process for the proposed Lake Michigan National Marine Sanctuary, located along the coastline of Two Rivers, Manitowoc, Sheboygan and Port Washington.
The selection of the Lake Michigan sanctuary was announced by President Barack Obama as part of a video message shared during the annual “Our Ocean” global conference held this year in Valparaiso, Chile.
Two Rivers area shipwrecks explored
“We’ve been working on this for several years and ... it’s a major, major step and accomplishment for the city of Manitowoc,” Manitowoc Mayor Justin Nickels said. “I think right now what we need is community support. We need the community to understand how major of an impact having a national marine sanctuary here would have on our area in terms of tourism, in terms of dollars. It would be massive.”
The nomination detailing the proposed 875-square-mile sanctuary was among six others submitted to NOAA and one of two chosen to move forward in the process, along with a portion of the Potomac River in Maryland.
The Lake Michigan sanctuary would be the second in the Great Lakes and 14th in the United States. NOAA last designated a sanctuary in 2000.
“We believe a sanctuary designation is truly fitting,” Two Rivers City Manager Greg Buckley said. “Our marine environment is enormously rich in historical, cultural and archaeological treasures, and a national marine sanctuary will afford greater opportunity for discovery, protection and preservation of those unique treasures.”
The sanctuary would contain 39 known shipwrecks, including the two oldest shipwrecks in Wisconsin, and 15 intact shipwrecks (three with standing masts). Fifteen of the 39 shipwrecks are on the National Register of Historic Places.
“There is a lot of mystery, and I think people love mystery. These shipwrecks have that,” said Rolf Johnson, CEO of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc. “They tell the story about our communities and our connections to the lake.”
The four cities are expecting to see a boost in divers coming to explore the wrecks, in addition to more kayakers, snorkelers, people with an interest in nautical history and those who just want to enjoy the lakefront views.
Jason Ring, Manitowoc Area Visitor & Convention Bureau president, said it’s difficult to project what the economic impact of the sanctuary will be, but is confident it will be positive.
“Giving us that national exposure that this marine sanctuary is something you just can’t duplicate with our small tourism budget. It will put us on the map nationally as a known destination,” he said. “Whenever there is something new in a community, there is a buzz about it, and that initial draw helps get people here.
“The big part of the marine sanctuary will be that it’s so very interactive and continually changing, — new shipwrecks being discovered or (known) ones being made more accessible — we hope it will bring people back again and again.”
Alpena, Michigan, headquarters for the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Lake Huron, has about 10,000 residents but averages 100,000 tourists annually, offering attractions such as glass-bottom boat tours and various maritime-themed festivals.
Johnson said the Maritime Museum plans to add marine sanctuary-related exhibits, such as a live video feed of some shipwrecks so visitors can explore them virtually, as well as collaboration with the other cities for additional programming.
“The sanctuaries, wherever they are located, end up becoming major engines not only for local economic development, but local educational and program opportunities,” he said. “It opens up the opportunity to tell people why these wrecks are important and why we think they’re worthy of study. One primary audience is school kids. It’s a great way to turn kids on to science and history.”
The next step is to hold public input meetings, which are scheduled for November. NOAA also will begin working on an environmental impact study and sanctuary management plan. Designation could take about a year to complete.
“A national marine sanctuary in our mid-lake region will be a huge economic boom for our four communities and the region,” Nickels said. “But more importantly, it will serve as a tremendous source of pride and basis of celebration for our entire state of Wisconsin.”
Reach Sarah Kloepping at 920-686-2105 or skloepping@htrnews.com
PUBLIC INPUT MEETINGS
- Wisconsin Maritime Museum, 75 Maritime Drive, Manitowoc: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Nov. 17
- Wilson House, 200 N. Franklin St., Port Washington: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Nov. 18
- University of Wisconsin-Sheboygan main building, 1 University Drive, Wombat Room (2114): 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Nov. 19