Proposal: Grand Traverse Islands National Lakeshore August 10, 2015
Contents: Summary Part 1: The Need Part 2: The Answer Part 3: The Why Part 4: The Proposal Part 5: The Process Conclusion
Summary The Grand Traverse Islands, stretching from Wisconsin s Door County to Upper Michigan s Garden Peninsula, are an incredible place. Not only do they encompass five nineteenthcentury lighthouses, numerous Native American archeological sites, dozens of shipwrecks, the great estate of Chester Thordarson, and the last remaining Duluth-style US Life Saving Station on the Great Lakes, but they are also home to many rare species of plants and animals and are part of the Great Arc the Niagara Escarpment spanning 650 miles from Northeast Wisconsin to Western New York. Since 1970, when the US Department of the Interior released its landmark Islands of America report, they have been considered worthy of public protection and recreational use. Yet 45 years later, after attempts made by both Wisconsin and Michigan, the island chain remains unopened, unprotected, unsung, and falling apart. This is a national tragedy. The answer is the creation of a new unit of the national park system, with wilderness status similar to what has been done in the Apostle Islands. Such a park need not include any private property. Nor would it infringe on the rights of hunters or commercial fishermen. Additionally, it would increase tourism in a tourism-dependent region and likely be self-supporting once stablished.
This would not only help preserve historical properties, but a scenic and pristine area where citizens might walk nature trails, experience wildlife via boats, canoe and kayaks, and view those historic structures that were so very important to our maritime past. Wayne Wheeler, President US Lighthouse Society
Part One: The Need The Grand Traverse Islands, which bridge the gap between the Garden Peninsula in Upper Michigan and Door County in Northeast Wisconsin, are a richly bio-diverse, historically significant, and relatively undeveloped wilderness archipelago. In 1970, the US Department of the Interior recommended that they be protected and made available for recreational use in its landmark Islands of America report. And on the heels of that recommendation, Wisconsin and Michigan began jointly planning the creation of an interstate wilderness park there. Wisconsin even went as far as to commission an environmental impact study of the proposed Grand Traverse Islands State Park in 1978, and purchased five small plots of land on Detroit Island for inclusion into the park shortly thereafter. Sadly, either because of decreasing state coffers or the changing politics of the 1980s, the interstate park plan was abandoned. Decades later, the island chain remains unopened, unprotected, unsung, and falling apart. Critically important habitat for the threatened and endangered plants and animals found there is dwindling throughout the region. And some of the historic buildings located there are now among the nation s most endangered maritime structures. This is neither what the people who live here want nor what such a geologically, ecologically, and historically significant area deserves. This is a national tragedy.
Part Two: The Answer The answer is the creation of a national lakeshore encompassing most of the chain s larger islands, in addition to sections of both mainland peninsulas. Specifically: a new unit of the national park system, given wilderness status, open to public use, similar to what has been done in the Apostle Islands. Such a park need not include any private property, since a great deal of the island chain and nearby peninsulas is already owned by county, state, and federal agencies and organizations. Nor would such a park infringe on the rights of hunters or commercial fishermen, given that both of these activities occur in other national parks and lakeshores, such as the Apostle Islands.
We sincerely believe this project would be a certain asset to our community, as well as Michigan and Wisconsin as a whole. Along with sustaining and nurturing the immense wildlife habitat of the islands, creating a National Lakeshore would create a natural attraction which would have a positive economic impact on our area. Delta County Chamber of Commerce
Part Three: The Why Even without a pressing need, the Grand Traverse Islands are worthy of national lakeshore designation. Part of the vast Niagara Escarpment (spanning 650 miles from Northeast Wisconsin to Western New York), the islands consist of dolomitic limestone rock formed 430 million years ago from the compressed sediments of a shallow, tropical sea. Rare wildflowers and orchids found almost nowhere else on earth call them home. Neotropical songbirds, bats, and butterflies return to them each and every summer. And trees believed to be over 500 years old cling to their nearly vertical, rocky bluffs. They were given their name by early French Voyageurs paddling from one peninsula to the other, and they encompass five nineteenth-century lighthouses, numerous Native American archeological sites, dozens of shipwrecks, the great estate of Chester Thordarson, and the last remaining Duluth-style US Life Saving Station on the Great Lakes. Yet there is a pressing need, and there are many other reasons why a national lakeshore is the right path forward. First of all: Northern Door County, the Grand Traverse Islands, and Delta County provide critical habitat for a great number of threatened and endangered species. Regionally, the habitat for these species is shrinking day by day. By protecting the area from future development, and managing the land as a single unit, those species will stand much more of a chance for survival. The National Park Service
would allow for this in a way that the currently fragmented system of local, state, and federal agencies and organizations does not, and a set of two state parks could not. Wilderness designation under the Wilderness Act would ensure the greatest possible protection for these plants and animals by preventing future development. Second: the area s maritime heritage is in grave danger. Many of the most significant historical structures found throughout the Grand Traverse Islands are threatened by disrepair and collapse especially those on Pilot Island, Poverty Island, and St. Martin Island. If we don t act to save them soon, they may never be saved. Friends groups can only do so much. And the mission of the US Fish & Wildlife Service which is currently looking at acquiring many of the islands does not include historic preservation and interpretation. Thus the National Park Service, whose primary mission does include historic preservation and interpretation, is the perfect candidate. Third: the creation of a national lakeshore in the Grand Traverse Islands would provide for greater public access than is currently available or would be available if the area became a National Wildlife Refuge under the control of the US Fish & Wildlife Service. As with all great wilderness areas, the Grand Traverse Islands have the power to help us discover ourselves and our connection to nature. They have the power to replenish our souls and help us literally re-create ourselves. But they cannot do that if public access to them is prohibited. A national lakeshore would ensure that that does not happen, while also protecting the health of the environment through the use of a backcountry permitting process. Fourth: the construction of several small docks in protected harbors throughout the Grand Traverse Islands would go a long way towards making the area a safer and more accessible place to visit. Currently, there are no public safe harbors between Rock Island and the Garden Peninsula. Given how quickly the weather can sour, it is therefore quite dangerous to visit the islands by sea kayak or sailboat if one is inexperienced. Yet that does not stop people from wanting to visit and never will. The creation of a
national lakeshore would allow for a few small public docks to be built, thus improving public safety and accessibility. Fifth: as if all the other reasons were not enough, a national lakeshore would be marketable in a way that national wildlife refuges are not and the local and regional economic benefits of national parks and lakeshores are tremendous. In 2013, the national park system brought over $14.6 billion in spending to gateway communities. With 401 units of the national park system, that is an average of $36.4 million dollars per park unit! (Every year!) Local accommodations, restaurants, charter fishing cruises, outfitters, gas stations, grocery stores, retail shops, and countless other businesses would see a huge increase in traffic and sales volume. Countless new jobs would inevitably be created. And although these jobs would largely be directly connected to the seasonal tourism industry, proximity to a national lakeshore would make it easier to attract yearround employees in non-tourist industries. Finally: a national lakeshore in the Grand Traverse Islands would likely be selfsupporting once established. Tourism in Door County alone (which is only 3 hours away from Milwaukee, 4 hours away from Chicago, and 5 hours away from Minneapolis-St. Paul) has skyrocketed over the last thirty years to 2 million visitors annually. And given that both Door and Delta Counties attract people who enjoy nature, a national lakeshore in the Grand Traverse Islands would be a very popular destination. Even if only a quarter of all the annual visitors to Door County stopped by the park, its level of visitation would be on par with Crater Lake, Kings Canyon, Denali, Canyonlands, the Redwoods, and the Virgin Islands, while far surpassing that of Isle Royale, the North Cascades, and the Apostle Islands. If each of these half a million visitors spent just $10 to enter the park, it would equal $5 million in revenue for the National Park Service each year and every year, a sum that would very likely cover annual costs which hover between $2.5 million and $4.5 million for other national parks in the region.
The addition of a Grand Traverse Islands National Lakeshore would help our local and state economies realize incremental growth in our tourism dependent region. It would also provide another incredible opportunity for visitors to explore, experience and appreciate the incredible natural environment we are fortunate enough to call home. Door County Visitor Bureau
Part Four: The Proposal What might the Grand Traverse Islands National Lakeshore look like? The properties we are proposing for inclusion into the national lakeshore are summarized in the following table and shown visually on the next page.
Proposed National Lakeshore Boundaries (shown in green)
Proposed Wilderness Overlay (shown in purple)
Proposed Properties PUBLICLY OWNED PROPERTIES: Acres Owner Mink River State Natural Area 1787 The Nature Conservancy Newport State Park 2373 Wisconsin DNR Hotz Memorial Town Park - Town of Liberty Grove Europe Lake Boat Launch - Town of Liberty Grove Garrett Bay Park - Town of Liberty Grove Door Bluff Headlands County Park 156 Door County Parks Dept. Green Bay Nat'l Wildlife Refuge 330 US Fish and Wildlife Jackson Harbor Ridges State Natural Area 70 Town of Washington Rock Island State Park 912 Wisconsin DNR St. Martin Island (96%) 1244 The Nature Conservancy Poverty Island 171 Unknown Government Agency Michigan State Forest Compartment 200 1488 Michigan DNR Michigan State Forest Compartment 99 1158 Michigan DNR Michigan State Forest Compartment 98 1802 Michigan DNR Michigan State Forest Compartment 96 2175 Michigan DNR Michigan State Forest Compartment 95 1662 Michigan DNR Sac Bay County Park 65 Delta County TOTAL: 15393 For Comparison Acres Notes Grand Traverse Islands National Lakeshore 15393 As proposed National Park of American Samoa 13500 (9000 land, 4500 coral reef) Virgin Islands National Park 14737 Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore 15067 Acadia National Park 47452 Apostle Islands National Lakeshore 69372 Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore 71187 Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore 73236 Isle Royale National Park 571790 Hot Springs National Park 5550 (America's smallest)
Part Five: The Process How are national parks and lakeshores created? One of two ways: through an act of Congress or through an executive order of the President although the second method can only be applied to lands currently under federal control and would result in a national monument rather than a national lakeshore. Before either can happen, however, the National Park Service must conduct a Special Resource Study (SRS) of the area in question, in order to determine its significance, suitability, and feasibility. And the National Park Service can only conduct an SRS if it is authorized by Congress to do so. Therefore, the process is as follows: 1. 2. 3. Congress must pass legislation requesting the National Park Service to conduct an SRS of the proposed lakeshore. The National Park Service must return with a positive SRS. Congress must then pass legislation creating the new national lakeshore (or the President must declare the creation of a national monument). Finally, how does such an area receive wilderness status? Simply put, Congress must include wording to give the national park unit wilderness protection under the Wilderness Act or subsequently pass separate legislation that does so.
Conclusion 45 years after they were identified for protection in the US Department of the Interior s Islands of America report, the Grand Traverse Islands remain unopened, unprotected, unsung, and falling apart. This is neither what the people who live here want nor what such a geologically, ecologically, and historically significant area deserves. The answer is the creation of a national lakeshore, given wilderness status, and open to public use similar to what has been done in the Apostle Islands. The reasons are many: environmental, historical, recreational, and economic. No private lands need be included. And the rights of hunters and commercial fisherman would not be curtailed. Furthermore: a national lakeshore in the Grand Traverse Islands would likely be self-supporting once established. So if there is any way that you can help Please help!
These islands, many of them very remote, are not only beautiful but important to bird migration, the eco system and tourism. Please support this effort to forever protect this national treasure. Jim Robinson, Owner Shoreline Charter Cruises
Contact: Friends of the Grand Traverse Islands 253 N 1 st Ave, Suite 1 Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235