Wisconsin’s maritime heritage runs deep. Designating a national marine sanctuary would preserve Lake Michigan shipwrecks and cultural artifacts that represent the tenacity and entrepreneurial spirt of generations of Americans.  Wisconsin communities along the lakeshore worked together to nominate and support a Wisconsin-Lake Michigan to preserve our Nation’s history, to connect children to Great Lakes history and science education, and to support tourism and jobs in their communities.

As the national nonprofit dedicated to supporting work in and around sanctuaries, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation sees firsthand the benefits that a sanctuary designation brings to communities from enhanced recognition and economic benefits to improved coordination of public agencies.

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is dedicated to working with communities to preserve their cultural heritage and support community engagement in conservation.  The Foundation looks forward to working with Governor Walker to answer the questions he raised in his letter to NOAA last week.