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Governance of Lake Superior Water Trail – SFS M.S. Water Policy Track Thesis Presentation
Cami Armendariz, Water Policy and Science Communications Fellow (2024-2026), will present her thesis research on the governance of the Lake Superior Water Trail on March 11th.
Location: SFS Ballroom & Zoom
Zoom link: https://wisconsin-edu.zoom.us/j/92187019071
The Lake Superior Water Trail (LSWT) presents a complex governance challenge, spanning international boundaries, three U.S. states, and twelve Indigenous nations. Unlike federally designated National Scenic Trails, the LSWT lacks a unified management structure on the United States side, resulting in fragmented administration and inconsistent stewardship. This study investigated a sample of governance entities, their stakeholder roles, and community engagement strategies to characterize the overarching governance models currently shaping the Trail鈥檚 development across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
Conducting 47 semi-structured interviews ranging from local to federal public agencies, tribal organizations, and non-governmental organizations, this study applied theoretical thematic coding based on four pre-established conceptual frameworks: types of governance entities, stakeholder roles, the IAP2 Spectrum of Public Participation and the Democracy Cube. The analysis identified two governance models in action: the Public-Nonprofit Combination Model in Minnesota, where government agencies provide oversight and infrastructure while nonprofits handle outreach and volunteer coordination; and the Traditional-Community Model in Wisconsin and Michigan, defined by decentralized decision-making and informal local consensus, often lacking official regulatory designations.
This study recommends the establishment of a 鈥淟ake Superior Water Trail Collaborative鈥� with a primary role of cross-jurisdictional coordination. Future planning must evolve beyond physical implementation to prioritize mutual benefit for trail communities, explicitly defining the Trail鈥檚 value to local economies, cultures, and environments. This will position the LSWT as a cornerstone of a broader Great Lakes Coastal Trail Network.
