U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Introduces Major Legislation to Boost Wisconsin's Waterfront Communities

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, a member of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, introduced major legislation aimed at boosting efforts to revitalize waterfront communities, including Wisconsin towns and cities along the Great Lakes, rivers and inland lakes. The Waterfront Community Revitalization and Resiliency Act will support community efforts to make the most of water resources by attracting water-dependent industries and investments that leverage water sustainably, revitalizing neighborhoods, and enhancing recreation and tourism. In addition, Senator Baldwin's legislation will support communities to plan for their future, provide the tools to implement that plan, and help them attract private and non-profit investment. Senator Baldwin was joined in introduction of her legislation by Senators Angus King (I-ME), Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Gary Peters (D-MI).

"From Milwaukee to Manitowoc and from La Pointe to La Crosse, waterfronts are a critical asset for our quality of life in Wisconsin, as well as for our long term economic security," said Senator Baldwin. "In fact, the Great Lakes are directly linked to more than 1.5 million U.S. jobs and $62 billion in annual wages. And Wisconsin's natural resources support nearly $12 billion dollars of economic activity in the Badger State. Boosting our waterfront communities is not just an environmental goal, it is an economic necessity. That is why I am proud to introduce this commonsense legislation that will support waterfront communities across America to make the most of their local water resources."

Many waterfront communities were built around their water resources years ago, and are now working to reposition and overcome issues such as limited public access and poor alignment with modern development. In addition to adapting to economic shifts, waterfront communities are facing pressures to meet increasing demands on water resources; make resilient investments that can withstand weather extremes like storms, floods, and fluctuating lake levels; and adapt to changing ecosystem conditions that range from shoreline erosion to stresses on fisheries.

Waterfront planning and implementation requires communities to navigate intergovernmental hurdles, work across constituent groups and agencies, and secure financing. But many communities lack the resources to make it from vision to reality--despite the economic returns from revitalization and the payoff that resiliency preparation can provide in the long term.

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