{"id":14020,"date":"2026-04-02T14:11:22","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T19:11:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/freshwater\/community-engagement\/harbor-maps\/"},"modified":"2026-04-06T15:54:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T20:54:22","slug":"harbor-maps","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/freshwater\/community-engagement\/community-resources\/harbor-maps\/","title":{"rendered":"Harbor Maps"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Maps for a Better Lake Michigan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re diving deeper to improve the world\u2019s largest freshwater system \u2013 beginning at home in the Milwaukee Harbor. Mapping fish habitats helps protect and restore vibrant wildlife populations in the heart of urban Milwaukee.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

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Charting Life Under Water<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Researchers from the School of Freshwater Sciences mapped 42 miles of Milwaukee\u2019s lower estuary, where Lake Michigan meets the city\u2019s southern waterways, to find the homes of freshwater fish. Designed by Associate Professor Kim Beckmann, the resulting maps show wildlife teeming below the surface of this industrial harbor. The maps are educating the public and supporting clean-up efforts throughout the area, as activities are underway to connect and expand the \u201chabitat hotspots\u201d researchers discovered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nSee the Maps<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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How the Maps Were Made<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about how the project came to be and the process of making the maps and plans for future maps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Making the Maps<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Get Maps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Order copies or find out where they are on display. Educators and wildlife restoration groups can obtain maps free of charge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Order Maps<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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How Maps are Helping Restore the Harbor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Milwaukee Harbor is an EPA \u201carea of concern\u201d because of its high levels of industrial waste. As governmental agencies, researchers and nonprofits seek to get our harbor off that list, the maps on this page help them identify which interventions will be most effective. The harbor maps also spurred the creation of a consortium of organizations that can take on large-scale improvement projects and fueled additional grant proposals to map more areas and expand habitats. Finally, the maps are being distributed to the public to inspire residents and visitors to be stewards of our local ecosystem.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

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Future Maps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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With the Milwaukee Harbor Mapping project moving into the graphic design phase, the Fund for Lake Michigan funded a second mapping project. This new project focuses on mapping fish spawning and foraging habitat in the Lake Michigan harbors of the Wisconsin communities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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