Kelly Nielson, Green Lake Association’s director of development, speaks during a public comment period at Green Lake County’s recent Land, Water, Parks and Community Committee meeting.
submitted photo
A new effort to recognize the economic importance of Big Green Lake is moving forward in Green Lake County.
On Sept. 10, the Green Lake County Land, Water, Parks & Community Committee approved a resolution recognizing Big Green Lake’s economic impact on Green Lake County and incorporating that perspective into future county planning.
The resolution now will advance to the full Green Lake County Board for consideration in October.
The decision marks an encouraging next step for the Green Lake Association’s (GLA’s) Economic Impact Study and reflects the growing recognition that the health of Green Lake and the strength of our local economy are closely connected.
During the meeting, GLA Director of Development Kelly Nielsen spoke during public comment in support of the resolution and the importance of considering Green Lake as both a natural and economic asset.
“Protecting clean water is both an environmental responsibility and a practical investment in our county’s future,” Nielsen said. “The Economic Impact Study shows that the effects of declining water quality extend far beyond the shoreline, impacting jobs, businesses, property values, public revenues, and families throughout the region.”
That perspective is also gaining recognition among county leaders.
“Since I was elected in 2024, I’ve had the opportunity to work with the Green Lake Association on a number of projects and have seen firsthand the value of their science based approach,” said Mike Skivington, Vice Chair of the Land, Water, Parks & Community Committee. “The Economic Impact Study gives us real data showing just how important
Green Lake is to our local economy and community, and I believe that perspective belongs in conversations about our county’s future.”
Earlier this year, the Green Lake Association released the results of a first-of-its-kind Economic Impact Study, commissioned by the organization and conducted by Stantec Consulting Services. The study sought to answer an important question: What does Green Lake mean to our local economy?
The findings put numbers behind something many in our community have long understood.
Green Lake generates an estimated $88 million to $123 million in annual economic activity and supports between 973 and 1,400 jobs. More than half of the economic activity occurring within 1.5 miles of the lake depends on the lake’s presence.
The study also found that declining water quality could result in millions of dollars in lost economic activity each year, along with impacts on property values and local tax revenue.
GLA Assistant Director Taylor Haag Strauser has helped bring the study’s findings before county leaders and committees, building awareness around what the research means for the region’s future.
The GLA commissioned the study to provide community members, businesses, and elected officials with credible information they can use when considering the future of Green Lake and its watershed.
Anyone interested in reading the full Economic Impact Study can visit www.greenlakeassociation.org/study-economicimpact.
A healthy Green Lake supports restaurants, lodging, retail, recreation, tourism, jobs, property values, and tax revenue. Its influence reaches well beyond the shoreline and into communities throughout the region.
Simply put, clean water and a strong economy are not competing priorities. They are connected.
About GLA
GLA is a science-driven nonprofit dedicated to protecting Wisconsin’s deepest natural inland lake. Through phosphorus reduction, invasive species prevention and watershed restoration, GLA is working to improve water quality and build long-term resilience. By engaging volunteers, partnering with local schools and fostering hands-on lake experiences, it aims to strengthen the community’s connection to Green Lake and inspire generations of stewards to care for it.
Josh Preissner is GLA’s communication manager.