Detroit Island is an island in Lake Michigan in the southern part of the town of Washington in Door County, Wisconsin, United States. The island has a land area of 2.578 km2 (0.9955 sq mi, or 637.12 acres),[1][2] out of which 27.6% is open to the public.[3] The northern end of the island borders the waters of Detroit Harbor.
 Facing the northern side of the island from the harbor | |
  Detroit Island  Detroit Island | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Door County, Wisconsin |
| Coordinates | 45°19′17″N 86°54′58″W / 45.321487°N 86.916073°W |
| Area | 637.12 acres (257.83 ha) |
| Highest elevation | 594 ft (181.1 m) |
| Administration | |
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Door County |
| Town | Washington Island |
In 1967 there were no taxable buildings erected on the island, but after one of the four landowners began subdividing and selling lots, seasonal residences were built. Six residences were developed by 1978.[4] The Door County Board of Supervisors, the Town of Washington, and the Detroit Island Landowners' Association opposed plans by the state Department of Natural Resources to acquire the entire island for use as a park.[5]
Grand Traverse Island State Park was founded in 1970 and protects slightly more than 5 acres (2.0 ha) of land on Detroit Island.[6] It consists of five discontiguous parcels[7] and there is no ferry access. 22.25 acres (9.00 ha) adjacent to two of the state park parcels are owned by the Door County Land Trust and are open to the public as part of the Detroit Harbor Nature Preserve.[8][3]
The current purpose of the state park is to "maintain public access to provide opportunities for hunting, fishing, trapping, walking, wildlife watching and nature study and other compatible nature-based outdoor recreation activities."[9] Deer, ruffed grouse, and waterfowl have been hunted on the island.[10]
The state park includes areas mapped as "upland deciduous forest" and "open wetland/marsh".[11]
148.65 acres (60.16 ha) on the southeast side is part of the Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge.[12][3]
History
editThe border between Wisconsin and Michigan was originally defined as "the most usual ship channel" into Green Bay from Lake Michigan but commercial routes existed both to the north and south of the island which lead to a border dispute. In 1936, the U.S. Supreme Court decision Wisconsin v. Michigan found that Detroit and other nearby islands were part of Wisconsin.
Gallery
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Fishermen working with nets on Detroit Island; from a postcard postmarked in 1909 -
Detroit Island, view of the Green Bay National Wildlife portion -
Another view of the Green Bay National Wildlife portion -
Northwestern and central Detroit Island -
Central and southeastern Detroit Island -
Detroit Island on October 8, 1952 -
Ice stringers along the southeastern part of the island at 1:52:46 PM Central Standard Time on February 22, 2014. North is towards the left in this photo taken during Expedition 38 of the International Space Station
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Nearby islands
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References
edit- ^ "Detroit Island (Wisconsin)". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Detroit Island: Blocks 2109 thru 2112, Block Group 2, Census Tract 9801, Door County, Wisconsin United States Census Bureau". Retrieved 2020-03-29.
- ^ a b c Door County Web Map
- ^ Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed Acquisition, Development and Management of Grand Traverse Islands State Park, Door County Wisconsin by the Bureau of Environmental Impact, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, June 1978, pages 57 and 60–61
- ^ Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed Acquisition, Development and Management of Grand Traverse Islands State Park, Door County Wisconsin by the Bureau of Environmental Impact, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, June 1978, pages 106 and 110
- ^ "Payment of State Aid to Municipalities for the payment year of 2005" (PDF). Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
- ^ Hunting & Trapping Map Grand Traverse Island State Park, Wisconsin DNR PUB PR-2090, Rev. 9/11/2014
- ^ Detroit Harbor Nature Preserve, Door County Land Trust
- ^ Northern Lake Michigan Coastal Regional Master Plan by Michael Bergum, Dave Boyarski, Erin Brown Stender, Katie Godding, Joe Henry, Dan Lekie, Katherine Lenz, Jeff Pritzl, Missy Vanlanduyt, Curt Wilson, and Ann Freiwald, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, section on Grand Traverse Islands State Park (Door County), page 65 (page 72 of the pdf)
- ^ Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed Acquisition, Development and Management of Grand Traverse Islands State Park, Door County Wisconsin by the Bureau of Environmental Impact, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, June 1978, page 40, section on Detroit Island
- ^ Northern Lake Michigan Coastal Regional Master Plan by Michael Bergum, Dave Boyarski, Erin Brown Stender, Katie Godding, Joe Henry, Dan Lekie, Katherine Lenz, Jeff Pritzl, Missy Vanlanduyt, Curt Wilson, and Ann Freiwald, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Grand Traverse Islands State Park Existing Land Cover, map E-3 (page 259 of the pdf)
- ^ Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge Hunt, Fish & Public Use Regulations 2021-2022, USFWS (Archived February 23, 2022)
External links
edit- Detroit only hitch in desire to preserve islands for park by Keta Steebs, Door County Advocate, August 24, 1976
- Wisconsin Will Go it alone on Traverse Island park, Door County Advocate, January 31, 1978
- Islanders oppose Islands state park, Door County Advocate, Vol. 116 - No. 42, August 10, 1978
- Area legislators oppose Grand Traverse Islands, Door County Advocate, January 30, 1979
- Kayaker Paddles for Island Unification by Craig Sterrett, Peninsula Pulse, November 5, 2021