Wisconsin’s Great Lakes Harbor Towns Rise to the Challenge
Mayor Gary Becker of Racine and Mayor Larry MacDonald of Bayfield are challenging Wisconsin harbor towns to support new initiatives focusing on eco-tourism, boating and responsible use of our natural resources. The mayors will announce their “Challenge” to the other 17 harbor town mayors at beach cleanups in Racine and Bayfield on Tuesday September 9, 2008.

“September is Wisconsin Coastal Awareness month, and a great time to launch these important new initiatives in Wisconsin’s harbor towns”, says Mayor MacDonald of Bayfield which is also one of the nation’s first Eco Municipalities.  Mayor Becker states that, “many harbor towns are enthusiastically working on protecting our Great Lakes coasts and this project is a collaboration of important statewide agencies to couple their activities with tourism”.

These initiatives will be implemented by Wisconsin Harbor Towns Association (WHTA) in collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Administration Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute, Wisconsin Department of Tourism, and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.  The initiatives will include beach and harbor cleanups to promote Coastal Awareness Month, the development of a new Wisconsin Marina Association, the implementation of a voluntary Clean Marina program, a creation of new Wisconsin Harbor Town Travel Guide and the Simple Solutions to Great Lakes Health Resource Guide in spring 2009 for tourists and boaters.

Harbor town mayors will be presented with a Mayor’s Challenge proclamation to sign, which will outline the new initiatives and request their assistance in implementing them in their communities.

“The Great Lakes generate $55 billion in tourism for the region and we applaud the grassroots efforts of Wisconsin Harbor Towns to safeguard nearly 1,000 miles of coastline for the enjoyment of our residents and visitors for generations to come,” Tourism Secretary Kelli A. Trumble said. “This program compliments state initiatives such as the historic Great Lakes Compact, which is championed by Governor Doyle and will provide unprecedented protections for Wisconsin’s environmental and economic stake in our coastal waters.”

“Wisconsin’s Great Lakes are a national treasure and are critically important to our state’s future.  Coastal Awareness Month is a great opportunity for citizens, organizations, local and tribal governments and agencies to work together to promote and celebrate the Great Lakes and make sure they stay healthy and are enjoyed for generations to come”, says Secretary Michael Morgan of the Department of Administration. Efforts by Wisconsin Harbor Towns Association and its partners are funded through a grant by the Wisconsin Department of Administration’s Wisconsin Coastal Management Program.

Visit the new http://www.wisconsinharbortowns.org/ Web site
for information about Wisconsin’s Great Lakes harbor towns.

WHTA is a non-profit organization that promote tourism of Wisconsin’s Great Lakes harbor towns.  

The Wisconsin Department of Administration’s Wisconsin Coastal Management Program was established in 1978 under the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act to preserve, protect, and wisely use the resource of the Lake Michigan and Lake Superior coastline for this and future generations.