Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI)

Outdoor recreation in Wisconsin is an important economic driver and provides a multitude of economic and health benefits. An estimated 95% of Wisconsinites in 2018 participated in some form of outdoor recreation, with hiking, fishing, and hunting being some of the most popular activities.

Climate change will have both positive and negative impacts on outdoor recreation statewide. Current climate models predict increases in temperature, precipitation, and extreme weather events, which will alter various aspects of outdoor recreation and the tourism industry that relies on them.  Warmer winters, for example, will mean less snow on ski hills and less ice on lakes, making downhill skiing and ice fishing more difficult. These changes are already being felt in some winter activities, like cross country skiing, where skiers in the southern part of the state are having to adapt to less reliable snowfalls. Additional extreme rain events lead to more erosion that can degrade hiking and mountain bike trails. Longer, hotter summers will extend water-based activities, but matched with increased rainfall, may lead to more instances of harmful algal blooms that can lead to beach closures and recreational fishing. Finally, seasonal changes will alter bird migration patterns and the recreational activities like waterfowl hunting and birdwatching that are associated with them.