NOAA Announces New National Marine Sanctuary in Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan, the second largest of the five Great Lakes, encompasses over 22,000 square miles. Locals and visitors alike are drawn to its beautiful waters, which are rich with maritime history and recreational opportunities. The new sanctuary is built on a strong community foundation forged by years of stakeholder collaboration -- including elected officials, businesses, museums, and environmental, recreational, conservation, tourism, and educational groups.

“This designation is really exciting because it builds on 30 years of maritime heritage preservation by the state of Wisconsin,” said John Armor, director of NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. “There’s now a great opportunity for NOAA, the state, and our partners to engage a national audience, attract world-class researchers, and create new opportunities in education, recreation, and tourism on and off the water.”

The sanctuary was nominated in December 2014 by the governor of Wisconsin on behalf of the state of Wisconsin; the cities of Two Rivers, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, and Port Washington; and Manitowoc, Sheboygan, and Ozaukee counties. In October 2015, NOAA announced its intent to designate the sanctuary to help conserve nationally significant shipwrecks and maritime heritage resources. The proposal was shaped with significant public input. The final rule incorporates considerations from public comments, as well as consultations with the state of Wisconsin and tribal nations.

“The City of Manitowoc has worked toward this day for 12 years along with many wonderful partners at NOAA, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, the state of Wisconsin, and our municipal partners. We are excited that Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary will finally be a reality,” said Justin Nickels, mayor of Manitowoc.

The collection of shipwrecks within Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary is considered a national treasure because of the excellent preservation and archaeological condition of the shipwrecks, their diverse roles in the development of the Midwest and the rest of the nation, and their location on a historically significant transportation corridor. In addition to the shipwrecks themselves, many of their cargos remain largely intact: from general merchandise and locally produced goods, to Christmas trees and 264 Nash automobiles from 1929.

An extraordinary example is the schooner Walter B. Allen (1866-1880) -- a boxy-hulled “canaller,” once used to transport grain and coal between New York and Chicago. Canallers like this one are iconic because they were unique to the Great Lakes and were constructed to fit perfectly through the Welland Canal Locks. Sitting upright on the lakebed at a depth of 165 feet, the 136-foot long wooden schooner is still intact. Sites like this create exceptional recreational scuba diving opportunities for adventure-seekers and history buffs from across the globe, and contain a wealth of archaeological information.

An estimated 60 ships may yet to be discovered within the boundaries of the new sanctuary, in addition to the 36 known shipwreck sites. The potential for discovery is one of the most exciting aspects of the new sanctuary. The sanctuary and its partners have already begun the search, and in the process are creating new detailed maps of the lakebed, which can be viewed online. The maps also provide new information about the lake’s natural environment.

The sanctuary will provide a national stage for local communities to promote heritage tourism and recreation, attract new partners and resources, and bring attention and action to broader Lake Michigan conservation issues. The sanctuary will partner with cultural institutions, local and state tourism bureaus, conservation organizations, educators, and others to create new ways to connect the public with our nation’s heritage.

“The research, resources, and national exposure that the sanctuary brings to our incredible maritime story, illustrated by the underwater museums on the bottom of Lake Michigan, will benefit our communities, our citizens, and certainly the invaluable cultural treasures that are Wisconsin’s Great Lakes shipwrecks,” said Catherine Green, executive director of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum.

An important link between the sanctuary and communities is the creation of a Sanctuary Advisory Council, which will bring together diverse community members to provide advice to the sanctuary superintendent on the management and protection of the sanctuary.

Rachel Plunkett is the writer/editor for NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.