Detroit Island

{{short description|American island in Lake Michigan}}

{{Infobox islands

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|pushpin_map = Wisconsin#USA

| name = Detroit Island

| image_name = Detroit Island.jpg

| image_caption = Facing the northern side of the island from the harbor

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| location =Door County, Wisconsin

| coordinates = {{coord|45.321487|N|86.916073|W|region:US_type:landmark_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

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| area_acre =637.12

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| elevation_ft = 594

| country = United States

| country_admin_divisions_title = State

| country_admin_divisions = Wisconsin

| country1_admin_divisions_title = County

| country1_admin_divisions = Door County

| country2_admin_divisions_title = Town

| country2_admin_divisions = Washington Island

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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),{{cite gnis|1563920|Detroit Island (Wisconsin)}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |title=Detroit Island: Blocks 2109 thru 2112, Block Group 2, Census Tract 9801, Door County, Wisconsin United States Census Bureau |access-date=2020-03-29 }} out of which 27.6% is open to the public.[http://map.co.door.wi.us/map/ Door County Web Map] 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.[https://books.google.com/books?id=SGw5AQAAMAAJ 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 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.[https://books.google.com/books?id=SGw5AQAAMAAJ 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

Grand Traverse Island State Park was founded in 1970 and protects slightly more than {{convert|5|acre|ha}} of land on Detroit Island.{{cite web|title=Payment of State Aid to Municipalities for the payment year of 2005|url=http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/lands/realestate/documents/05r911071d.pdf|publisher=Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources|accessdate=2016-02-26}} It consists of five discontiguous parcels[https://embed.widencdn.net/pdf/download/widnr/xwmd89irwz/Grand-Traverse-Island_Hunting-Map_PR-2090.pdf?u=lk8nsc&showinbrowser=true Hunting & Trapping Map Grand Traverse Island State Park], Wisconsin DNR PUB PR-2090, Rev. 9/11/2014 and there is no ferry access. {{convert|22.25|acres}} 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.[https://www.doorcountylandtrust.org/detroit-harbor-nature-preserve/ Detroit Harbor Nature Preserve], Door County Land Trust

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."[https://embed.widencdn.net/pdf/plus/widnr/kgfjlsmjs2/NLMC_Full_Plan_Document.pdf 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) Deer, ruffed grouse, and waterfowl have been hunted on the island.[https://books.google.com/books?id=SGw5AQAAMAAJ 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

The state park includes areas mapped as "upland deciduous forest" and "open wetland/marsh".[https://embed.widencdn.net/pdf/plus/widnr/kgfjlsmjs2/NLMC_Full_Plan_Document.pdf 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)

{{convert|148.65|acres}} on the southeast side is part of the Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge.[https://web.archive.org/web/20220223152911/https://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/Green%20Bay%20Public%20Use%20Regs.19.508(1).pdf Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge Hunt, Fish & Public Use Regulations 2021-2022], USFWS (Archived February 23, 2022)