SJR105: Joint Resolution Text

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2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

2019 Senate JOINT RESOLUTION 105

February 28, 2020 - Introduced by Senators Bewley, Carpenter, Erpenbach, Hansen, Larson, Miller, Ringhand and Smith, cosponsored by Representatives B. Meyers, Milroy, Ballweg, Hebl, Hesselbein, Mursau, Ohnstad, Pope, Sargent, Shankland, Sinicki, Spreitzer, Subeck and Zamarripa. Referred to Committee on Senate Organization.

SJR105,1,2 Relating to: celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the creation of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

SJR105,1,6 Whereas, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore was established by an act of Congress 50 years ago on September 26, 1970, to “conserve and develop for the benefit, inspiration, education, recreational use, and enjoyment of the public” the lakeshore and the Apostle Islands for generations to come; and

SJR105,1,9 Whereas, the Apostle Islands and Lake Superior formed more than 10,000 years ago, the result of glaciers that moved across the land; and these dynamic forces of water and ice sculpted the 21 islands and mainland shoreline; and

SJR105,1,13 Whereas, the shores of Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands continue to be inhabited by indigenous people who have lived there for thousands of years, building societies and cultures on the shores of Gichigami (Lake Superior in Ojibwe), which are preserved by the tribal nations that call this area home; and

SJR105,2,2 Whereas, for over 100 years, immigrants came to the Apostle Islands for a variety of reasons, including logging, brownstone quarries, and fishing, and stayed because the Apostle Islands were a refuge from cities and a place to escape, relax, and call home; and

SJR105,2,7 Whereas, in addition to the people who live there, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is home to hundreds of species of plants, migratory and nonmigratory birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. These rare communities, habitats, and species of plants and animals include some of the finest coastal wetlands, sandscapes, and remnants of ancient forests in the Midwest; and

SJR105,2,11 Whereas, the Apostle Islands remain among the most unpredictable and secluded places in the Great Lakes, where solitude thrives and the unbridled forces of nature prevail, and the Gaylord Nelson Wilderness was established as part of the national lakeshore in 2004; and

SJR105,2,17 Whereas, the national lakeshore offers visitors unparalleled views of Lake Superior, 21 islands, and 12 miles of mainland shoreline, with endless opportunities for recreational fishing, boating, sailing, sea kayaking, camping, and hiking throughout the lakeshore, and educational opportunities about natural landscapes and geological features, including sea caves, at historic sites, including nine lighthouses, and in park visitor centers; and

SJR105,2,20 Whereas, the national lakeshore hosts over 250,000 visitors each year who contribute to the economic vitality of Wisconsin by supporting more than 560 jobs and spending $39 million in communities near the park; and

SJR105,3,4 Whereas, all of the affiliated tribal nations, including the two closest nations of the Red Cliff Band and Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin, continue to use Apostle Islands National Lakeshore for cultural, economic, and recreational purposes, alongside the people who live in nearby communities and tourists who visit the national lakeshore throughout the year. Together with the National Park Service they maintain this thriving ecosystem as a center of cultural, historical, and natural importance for the entire nation as Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Wisconsin's Jewel of Lake Superior; now, therefore, be it

SJR105,3,8 Resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That the members of the Wisconsin Legislature hereby celebrate the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and the National Park Service for its past and continuing management of this state's cultural and natural treasure.

SJR105,3,9 (End)