The bay once called the Bay of the Stinkers is a complex ecological puzzle

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Green Bay, an arm of Lake Michigan, carries a history as deep as its waters. From ancient burial grounds dating back to 5000 BC to its evolution into a modern industrial Area of Concern, the bay remains a vital, shifting ecosystem defined by unique currents and ongoing environmental restoration efforts.

Separated from Lake Michigan by the Door and Garden Peninsulas, Green Bay spans 1,626 square miles. Its geography is shaped by the Niagara Escarpment, which forms the chain of islands dividing the bay from the main lake. This physical structure creates a distinct hydrological system where warm surface water flows out into Lake Michigan while cold lakewater pushes deep into the bay underneath. The area has long been a focal point for human activity, hosting the oldest cemetery in Wisconsin at Copper Culture State Park, with remains dated to between 5000 and 6000 BC.

The bay’s name has shifted through centuries of exploration. French explorer Jean Nicolet originally labeled it the Bay of the Stinkers, a translation of a derogatory term used by Indian guides for the Ho-Chunk people. Later, French explorers like Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet navigated the Fox River, which enters the bay at the city of Green Bay, while searching for the Mississippi River. The name eventually evolved into the French Baie Verte, which the English adopted as Green Bay.

Today, the lower portion of the bay faces significant environmental challenges. Designated as an Area of Concern in 1987, it has suffered from industrial contamination, including PCB-laden sediments and high turbidity. Restoration efforts have been extensive, involving the dredging of hundreds of thousands of cubic yards of contaminated material and the implementation of remedial action plans. Despite these hurdles, the bay remains a complex biological environment where species like walleye, lake whitefish, and yellow perch interact, and where researchers continue to monitor water quality and the health of the surrounding ecosystem.

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