Kenosha Harbor Associates: Was born in 2011 by local businesses, fishing groups, concerned citizens, and people who have an interest in preserving the “Port of Kenosha”, correcting years of neglect and making the future clean and bright for all that enjoy the “Kenosha Harbor”.

Over the past several years, between the lack of funding by governmental bodies from the federal Government down to the local municipalities, the condition of the infrastructure and accessibility of the harbor has deteriorated.  When international shipping/receiving ended in the 1970’s here in Kenosha, What remained was a highly polluted and dirty seaport that was dead to fish and plant life alike.

Over the past 30+ years, with great effort and at a very high cost, the “Port of Kenosha” has become a boater's and sportsman's paradise.  This past season it was not unusual to find our regular species of fish, including trout, salmon, and perch, in abundant numbers within the marinas basins, but a large quantity of fish requiring “very clean” water such as: bass, northern, crappie, bluegill, and walleye also made an appearance.

This past season with the storms we endured caused extreme sand buildup at the mouth of the harbor. It piled up to a point where less than four feet of water remained above the sand and deeper vessels not only dragged the bottoms but more than a few had to be towed of the sand bar to open water.  With funding for dredging no longer available to the City of Kenosha and Army Corp of Engineers, no further action will be taken now or in the near future.

The City Council of Kenosha did not see the importance of including these funds in their 2012 budget.  The attitude of the council was of “non concern” to our harbor issues. Was this do to the lack of information or the lack of voter attendance at meetings, or maybe the lack of communications from their concerned constituents?

The short sidedness of our governing bodies in these tough economic times seems to be the norm of many of our elected officials,  Yet, the harbor still holds the heart of many more and their help in this project will be greatly appreciated. Regardless of the economy the harbor must be preserved and maintained to keep the economic influx that arrives each year with the spring thaw.

Kenosha Harbor Associates will take on the responsibilities’ of:

Public Awareness

Information clearing house

Coordination of efforts of governing bodies and involved groups

Volunteer help for clean up and maintenance issues

Raise needed funds for needed projects in the harbor

Investigate and pursue funding options for needed projects

Provide members and the general public with lobbing efforts regarding the harbor

Lobby Local, State, and Federal Governments for resources that can be used in our efforts

Work with the agencies involved in regulation of the harbor to further our efforts

Hold public awareness meetings to discuss and inform the area citizens of legislation and status of our efforts and the harbor

Join and help other groups facing the same problems we are addressing so that common interests can be shared

Work with Local officials to help them understand our concerns and work with them to achieve needed results

Establish a trust for future projects and needed repairs

No one person or group can resolve all of the concerns and issues of the Kenosha Harbor.  But together we are stronger and more flexible and able to achieve the results so needed to preserve our “Port” for our children and grandchildren alike.