News & Events

MADISON - Governor Tony Evers has proclaimed September as Coastal Awareness Month in Wisconsin in recognition of the important impact that the Great Lakes has on the state. Lake Michigan and Lake Superior are integral to Wisconsin’s economy, recreation, tourism, cultural history, and quality of life. The Governor’s proclamation is a reminder for the people of Wisconsin to protect, promote and enjoy the state’s Great Lakes.

In recognition of Coastal Awareness Month and the importance of the Great Lakes, the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program (WCMP) is proud to announce the release of the 2020 Wisconsin Great Lakes Chronicle. Now in its nineteenth year, the Chronicle promotes public awareness of Wisconsin Great Lakes issues, provides a vehicle for experts to educate public, policy leaders, and creates an historical record of Great Lakes events and perspectives. The 2020 edition features articles on the restoration of Saxon Harbor in Iron County, Great Lakes water levels, coastal resiliency in southeast Wisconsin, and Wisconsin’s Office of Outdoor Recreation. The 2020 Wisconsin Great Lakes Chronicle, including past issues, are available on the WCMP website.

The Department of Administration’s WCMP, now in its 42nd year, works cooperatively with Great Lakes stakeholders to balance resilient coastal communities, help protect and enhance natural, cultural, and historical resources of the Great Lakes while encouraging responsible economic development. The policy direction for WCMP is set by the Wisconsin Coastal Management Council. Members of the Council are appointed by the Governor and represent state agencies, local and tribal governments, and the general public.

To further celebrate Coastal Awareness Month, the WCMP is again pleased to announce that it is accepting grant proposals to enhance and protect resources within Wisconsin’s coastal zone. The Department of Administration’s WCMP anticipates awarding approximately $1.5 million in grant funding. Application materials and the Request for Proposals are available on the WCMP website (http://coastal.wisconsin.gov). Applications are due November 2, 2020.

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact WCMP staff early to discuss proposal ideas and application requirements. The WCMP was the first program in the Great Lakes and among the first ten nationally established through the federal Coastal Zone Management Act. Its mission since 1978 is a balance of resource protection and sustainable development within Wisconsin’s 15 Lake Michigan and Lake Superior counties. 

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Gov. Evers Announces $1.5 Million in Grants for Wisconsin's Coastal Communities

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today announced $1.5 million in grants to local, state and tribal governments, regional planning commissions, universities and nonprofit organizations through the Department of Administration’s (DOA) Wisconsin Coastal Management Program. In its forty-second year, the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program aims to protect and improve the Great Lakes resources across Wisconsin’s coastal communities. The thirty-nine grants awarded this year will be used by grantees to assist with projects totaling over $3.4 million.

“Wisconsin’s Great Lakes are some of our most important economic, cultural and natural resources,” said Gov. Evers. “From safe drinking water to tourism and recreation to commerce and transportation, we know that protecting the health of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior is a key to our state’s ability to thrive and support future generations.”

DOA’s Wisconsin Coastal Management Program assists intergovernmental collaborations, as well as public and private partnerships, to advance statewide and regional Great Lakes priorities. Initiatives funded as part of this year’s grants include enhancing public access to the Great Lakes, sustainable use practices, community development, habitat restoration, and pollution control. A complete list of this year’s grant recipients and project descriptions is available here.

“Balancing the protection of natural resources and sustainable economic development along our coastal communities is a delicate but necessary responsibility,” said DOA Secretary Joel Brennan. “Through these grants, communities along our state’s Great Lakes will have the ability to do just that, while also supporting the statewide coastal management goals.”

Recipients for this year’s grants were recommended by the Wisconsin Coastal Management Council, a Gubernatorially-appointed citizen and governmental advisory group. The program awards federal funds from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office for Coastal Management in the U.S. Department of Commerce, to local governments and other entities for innovative coastal initiatives.

The next Request for Proposals will be available August 2020. Staff will be holding application workshops in September where attendees will learn about the program, application process and discuss project ideas, with an application deadline early November 2020. Additional information about the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program can be found at http://coastal.wisconsin.gov.​​

The WCMP was the first program in the Great Lakes and among the first ten nationally established through the federal Coastal Zone Management Act. Its mission since 1978 is a balance of resource protection and sustainable development within Wisconsin’s 15 Lake Michigan and Lake Superior counties.