Detroit Island
Facing the northern side of the island from the harbor
Detroit Island is located in Wisconsin
Detroit Island
Detroit Island
Detroit Island is located in the United States
Detroit Island
Detroit Island
Geography
LocationDoor County, Wisconsin
Coordinates45°19′17″N 86°54′58″W / 45.321487°N 86.916073°W / 45.321487; -86.916073
Area637.12 acres (257.83 ha)
Highest elevation594 ft (181.1 m)
Administration
StateWisconsin
CountyDoor County
TownWashington Island

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.

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

The 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.

Nearby islands

Detroit Island is the long and narrow island at center-right. Beneath Detroit Island on the right is the much smaller Pilot Island, with Plum Island is at the lower left. Washington Island is in the distance.

References

  1. ↑ "Detroit Island (Wisconsin)". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ↑ "Detroit Island: Blocks 2109 thru 2112, Block Group 2, Census Tract 9801, Door County, Wisconsin United States Census Bureau". Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  3. 1 2 3 Door County Web Map
  4. ↑ 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
  5. ↑ 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
  6. ↑ "Payment of State Aid to Municipalities for the payment year of 2005" (PDF). Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
  7. ↑ Hunting & Trapping Map Grand Traverse Island State Park, Wisconsin DNR PUB PR-2090, Rev. 9/11/2014
  8. ↑ Detroit Harbor Nature Preserve, Door County Land Trust
  9. ↑ 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)
  10. ↑ 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
  11. ↑ 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)
  12. ↑ Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge Hunt, Fish & Public Use Regulations 2021-2022, USFWS (Archived February 23, 2022)
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