Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts | 2021 Assessment Report
WATER CHAPTER
Big cultural shifts are needed to protect Wisconsin’s water resources Windy Lake Michigan, 2015 Great Lakes Photo Contest. Photo credit: Eve Schrank
INTRODUCTION Wisconsin industry, communities, plants, wildlife, and fisheries depend on the quality of our 84,000 miles of rivers and streams, 15,000 lakes, 5.3 million acres of wetlands, and groundwater resources. The Mississippi River and two Great Lakes, Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, border Wisconsin,
42
WICCI Report 2021
providing 1,000 miles of Great Lakes coastline. These water resources add to our economy and provide unique natural resources. We are already seeing major impacts to these water resources because of climate change. The topics covered in this chapter include issues, impacts, and solutions in the areas of water resources, fisheries, Great Lakes, and the Mississippi River. These topic areas are covered in more depth