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The primary goal of West Shore projects is to enhance the stability of the Green Bay ecosystem.
The west shore of Green Bay is home to some of the finest remaining coastal wetlands along the Lake Michigan shoreline. These coastal wetlands provide critical habitat for fish and wildlife, enhance water quality by filtering rain water running off of urban and agricultural lands, and support commercial and recreational fisheries. The careful observer can find cranes, terns, turtles, ducks, and many other kinds of animals in the west shore. In the spring, Northern Pike swim out of Green Bay and into streams and ditches to spawn - they've been known to swim as many as 45 miles inland!
This area is unique because the gently emerging land supports plants, fish and wildlife that depend on both land and water for parts of their lifecycles. The cliffs that characterize other parts of the Lake Michigan shoreline don't support the same kinds of life. We are lucky to have this wonderful resource in the basin!
WDNR, US Fish & Wildlife Service, UW-Extension, area land trusts, and others are pursuing a number of activities to protect the coastal wetlands:
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Encouraging stewardship on private property by educating landowners about conservation practices and incentive programs;
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Acquiring land (the DNR can acquire land only within pre-approved areas and only from willing sellers);
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Working with area communities to identify opportunities for land preservation and protection in Comprehensive Land Use Plans; and
- Partnering with area community members and other agencies, to develop strategies for land protection, preservation, and restoration; ensure cooperation; and, enhance efficient use of resources .
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