With two Great Lakes on our borders and tens of thousands of inland lakes and rivers, it’s a given that Wisconsin is shaped by its waters. They fuel Wisconsin’s economy, sustain our ecosystems and carry deep ceremonial meaning for many Indigenous peoples. With life’s tides pulling us back and forth, it’s easy to feel directionless. But if anything can act as a guidepost for Wisconsinites, it’s the opportunities and identities that emerge in the wake of our waters.
This is what water means to Wisconsin, by the numbers.
6.4 million acres of Great Lakes lie within Wisconsin’s borders (4.7 million acres of Lake Michigan, 1.7 million acres of Lake Superior). The Lake Michigan shoreline in the Milwaukee area holds Wisconsin’s highest population density.
14,000 inland lakes fill our landscape, covering nearly 3% of Wisconsin’s total area.
2,444 trout streams contribute to Wisconsin’s rich fishing industry. Together, these streams would span over 956 miles.
7 in 10 Wisconsinites and 97% of Wisconsin’s inland communities rely on groundwater for their water supply.
$928 million from boating and fishing contributed to the state’s economy in 2024 — out of the total $11.2 billion that the state’s outdoor recreation industry reeled in that year.
6 distinct Lake Superior Chippewa (Ojibwe) communities reside in Wisconsin, and each views water as a living, sacred spirit and a central element in traditional Ojibwe creation stories.
More than 80 citizen-based community groups are dedicated to water protection in Wisconsin, varying widely in their missions and membership.