Harbor Infrastructure Resilience in Port Washington
A tour of the waterfront of Port Washington, Wisconsin focused on building resilience of the harbor and marina
About Port Washington
Port Washington is a coastal community with a population of approximately 12,000 and 5.4 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. It has a harbor and marina protected by breakwaters, public beaches north and south of the breakwaters, and erosion-prone bluffs. Fluctuating water levels and coastal storms on Lake Michigan threaten coastal property and have the potential to damage infrastructure important to tourism and commerce. Learn about how the Southeast Wisconsin Coastal Resilience Community of Practice can help Lake Michigan communities build resilience to natural hazards.
Coal Dock Park – Brownfields to Open Space
The tour starts at Coal Dock Park . The park was dedicated in September 2013 and built on a former coal storage site after the adjacent power plant converted to natural gas . It provides views of the harbor and downtown and includes a bird sanctuary and space for special events.
Watch an aerial fly-through of the park taken before the dedication.
A Clean Port Washington Marina
The Port Washington Marina has voluntarily adopted measures to reduce pollution that is generated by boats and marina operations and is certified as a “clean marina”. Learn about the Wisconsin Clean Marina Program and how the Fund for Lake Michigan is helping Wisconsin Sea Grant enhance the Wisconsin Clean Marina Program .
The Great Lakes Clean Marina Network is a collaboration between Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin Sea Grant programs to promote education about the health and improvement of the Great Lakes. Networks are a great way to connect people across a large area and the Great Lakes Clean Marina Network connects marina experts in Port Washington to learn and collaborate with other marina leaders and resources on the Great Lakes.
Lake Michigan's water levels reached a record low in January 2013. Since then, Port Washington and other Great Lake cities experienced damaging high lake levels. These fluctuating water levels require marinas to not only be prepared for rapid change, but to be resilient. To learn more, read this guide that includes tools and resources to increase resilience of Great Lakes marinas .
A tool that government officials can use to identify and address coastal issues in their communities is the Great Lakes Coastal Community Climate Adaptation Checklist .
Have you noticed dramatic changes in lake or river levels near you?
North Breakwater – Protecting Coastal Infrastructure
In Summer 2013, an assessment by the Corps of Engineers showed significant deterioration of the breakwater in Port Washington that needed immediate attention. Repairs started the following year were a great step in the right direction to create a safer, stronger and more accessible community asset.
Unfortunately, a powerful 2020 winter storm created high winds and large waves that slammed into the north breakwater causing damage. Repairs are expected to be complete June 2021.
The Harbor Infrastructure Cost Evaluation Tool has been used to identify the value of a port's infrastructure and estimate the cost of repairs and maintenance. Some of that maintenance includes harbor dredging which is the excavation of underwater sediment. Dredging can be done to create channels, lower a lake or river bed, or remove contaminated sediment.
Why is coastal infrastructure important to Port Washington and Ozaukee County's community?
Port Drives the Economy
Recreation and tourism makes up a large portion of the Ozaukee County Great Lake's economy according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Port Washington is listed as a Wisconsin Harbor Town . The Wisconsin Harbor Town Association includes cities along the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior and aims to support tourism and marketing in places like Port Washington. The port and breakwaters specifically create many opportunities for Ozaukee County's economy such as tourism, recreation, transportation of goods, and supporting Lake Michigan's charter fishing industry.
Charter fishing attracts tourists to Port Washington year-round. This area is known for chinook (king) salmon as well as steelhead trout and lake trout .
Port Washington is also part of the Wisconsin Commercial Ports Association . WCPA's goals are to increase promotion and appreciation for Wisconsin's port industry by supporting waterborne transport to port cities. Water transportation is not only one of the oldest forms of transportation, but is still the most efficient way to transport bulk commodities. Learn more about economic benefits here .
Do you have any water bodies near you? How do those river or lakes impact the economy in your community?
Port Exploreum
As a part of the Port Washington Historical Society , the Port Exploreum connects the rich maritime history of Port Washington to the future of the community through thoughtful discovery and hands-on exploration.
Quest complete!
Click here to submit the final word to unlock your certificate for completing the Port Washington Quest!
This fish species helps support the large charter fisheries in Port Washington bringing lots of tourists who want to catch trophies.
This animal is native to parts of Asia and the Pacific coast of North America and was introduced as one of the first large, predatory fish in the Great Lakes.
Acknowledgements
This story map guided tour was developed by the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute . The Great Lakes Quests are part of the Wisconsin Coastal Guide , an interactive map that supports heritage tourism along the Great Lakes coasts of Wisconsin. This guided tour promotes placed-based learning about coastal resilience issues in the state and is funded by the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office for Coastal Management under the Coastal Zone Management Act, Grant# NA17NOS4730144.