YOUR HELP IS NEEDED TO STOP THE MARINE SANCTUARY ONCE AGAIN, PLEASE.

NOTE: These comments are my own opinion of the Marine Sanctuary issue.  Please read and if you would like to help stop this waste of taxpayer’s money, please contact Governor Tony Evers at 608-266-1212  or email him at: [email protected].  Thank you for your help.

This is my opinion and I hope some of you feel the same way. The City Manager of Two Rivers, Mayors of Manitowoc, Sheboygan and Port Washington have decided to once again beg Governor Evers to apply for Marine Sanctuary status for the lakeshore from Port Washington to Two Rivers, WI.  This will cover about 1,000 Square miles of lakeshore which is already Wisconsin sovereign fresh water and Lake bottom.  This means they go from the highest water level, which in Wisconsin right now it’s almost at that point, to the point in the lake near the middle.

Here’s my point about getting the Federal Government involved in our State waters along our lakeshore. Are all of you happy with the way Federal government is being ran today. Do you really want someone from the Congress to tell you how you can use the lakeshore?  Once we lose control of the lake to the NOAA Marine Sanctuary group, you can start kissing your favorite fishing spots goodbye, commercial fishing will be affected by the Federal rules and they can impose any rule of using the lake they want.

The Sanctuary would require four (4) types of permitting for Lake users, be they municipalities, businesses, or individuals, for activities presently conducted. Other activities prohibited by Sanctuary regulations could not be done, by permit or otherwise.

The Sanctuary is an unfunded mandate. In order to accomplish any of the goals marketed by NOAA, including protection of the shipwrecks (38 of them), the State, Counties, Municipalities, and other partners will have to bear the cost.  NOAA comes with no Budget for itself or for its so-called partners.

Possible things might happen. 1. Enforcement of draconian regulations. Presently, NOAA does not have Budget for enforcement of its regulations and claims we shouldn’t worry about enforcement. However, the regulations and penalties will be law of the Nation and of Wisconsin. At any time, they could be enforced, be in collecting beach glass, stones, fireworks on the Fourth of July, or Fishing in your favorite spot.  2. Federal Decision making about use of Lake Michigan water.

Bottomline to all of this is, do you really trust our Federal Government in controlling our Lake waters??  The city officials are looking at getting money from the Federal NOAA Admin. to spend to bring people into our community. Manitowoc County has a problem, and that is no one wants to spend a penny to promote our fishing on the Lake. The Chamber will not promote our county, because they claim everyone must be a member of the chamber. Visitors Bureau is not going to promote Lake fishing other than what they place into the visitor’s guide.  If you look at all the outdoor fishing sites, very seldom will you see Manitowoc or Two Rivers mentioned. This has been a problem for many years.

I ask any one of you, just how many scuba drivers do you think will come to Manitowoc County to dive on the wrecks with NOAA’s help. I can tell you there are more fishermen coming to this county then divers. The shipwrecks are already protected by State Laws and the Maritime Museum has been promoting them for years.

Why do we need the Federal Government sticking their noses into our wonderful Lakeshore? One more issue you really need to think about. Getting money for the Federal Government is nice, BUT it’s already our money we pay into the government. Federal government is broke enough without us asking for more money to leak into the Lake. Help kill the restart of the Marine Sanctuary project. Thank you.