Atkinson Marsh
For decades, a portion of the former Atkinson Marsh in Green Bay has faced significant environmental challenges. Once a rich and thriving ecosystem, this wetland suffered from industrial activity, invasive species, and changes in hydrology. Located within the Lower Green Bay and Fox River, one of the Great Lakes’ most ecologically sensitive areas, the marsh has lost much of its ability to support native fish, birds, and other wildlife. The project site is a 31-acre remnant of the former 600+ acre Atkinson Marsh. The marsh now lies within the Bay Port Industrial Tract, adjacent to petroleum storage tank farms.
Stormwater runoff and sedimentation have further degraded water quality, disrupting natural wetland functions. The loss of habitat has reduced breeding and feeding areas for many species, including migratory birds and fish. Without restoration efforts, the marsh would continue to decline, threatening the ecological integrity of Green Bay and the broader Great Lakes ecosystem.
The site is located within the Lower Green Bay and Fox River Area of Concern (AOC) which the Environmental Protection Agency has recognized as being significantly degraded and in need of restoration. The City of Green Bay partnered with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) to secure funding through a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grant. Their goal? To improve fish and wildlife habitat, address fish and wildlife-Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs), and support long-term AOC delisting efforts.
This area was historically an important refugium for both plants and animals as the broader marsh footprint was gradually diked, filled, and shorelines hardened. In Phase 1 of the project, working with the City of Green Bay and the WDNR, GEI developed plans to restore the marsh to create a system that is adaptable and functional at both high and low Lake Michigan water levels. The designs incorporated native plantings and bioengineering to create a variety of habitats that include forested, scrub-shrub, and emergent wetland plant communities. Designs were developed in coordination with project partners and used existing Great Lakes coastal wetland ecosystems as reference communities.
GEI’s engineers and hydrologists have studied the movement of water across the site. By modeling tidal flows, rainfall patterns, and runoff dynamics, our team has identified multiple concepts to re-establish wetlands and habitat to support focal species. A final design was selected that results in the creation of multiple habitat types and the improvement of several existing habitats. This work is essential not only for habitat restoration but also making the marsh resilient and adaptable to varying water levels.
GEI is also restoring habitat, including fish habitat structures below the surface and, on shore, nesting grounds for marsh birds, like the Black Tern and Forster’s Tern, and improved rookeries for colonial birds such as Great Egrets and Black-crowned Night Herons. Refugia are being designed to protect vulnerable species from predators.
Services to be complete during Phase 2 of the project include completion of the bid package and construction documents, Quality Assurance Project Plan development, construction bidding and oversight, and post-construction restoration, maintenance, and monitoring. Construction is anticipated to occur in 2026 and will be followed by three years of post-construction monitoring and maintenance.
Once restored, the marsh will be more than a natural haven, it will be an urban restoration success benefitting people, plants, and wildlife. By combining scientific expertise, community involvement, and long-term ecological planning, Tank Farm Marsh is on its way to becoming a model for wetland restoration in the Great Lakes region.
