State Lands Ceded for Filling and Utilizing for Harbor Purposes.
Milwaukee City Charter § 20-045
in effect20-045. State Lands Ceded for Filling and Utilizing for Harbor Purposes.
1. TO CITY OF MILWAUKEE. All the right, title and interest of the state of Wisconsin in and to the lands on the easterly side of the city of Milwaukee in Milwaukee county, Wisconsin, and extending into Lake Michigan and bounded on the west by the original shore line of Lake Michigan as the same existed at the time the state of Wisconsin acquired title to the submerged lands of Lake Michigan, on the north by the south pier of the harbor entrance, on the south by the north line of Russell Avenue extended easterly, and on the east by a line beginning at a point in the north line of Russell Avenue extended and distant two thousand fifty-two and fifty-five hundredths feet easterly from the east line of Beulah Avenue, thence running northerly to a point in the easterly face of the south pier of the harbor entrance and distant fifteen and four tenths feet easterly of United States monument number three hundred eight, whether any part or parcel thereof may be, at the time of the passage and publication of this act, dry or submerged under the waters of Lake Michigan, are hereby ceded, granted and confirmed to the city of Milwaukee, a municipal corporation, for the purpose of improving, filling and utilizing the same for harbor purposes and in aid of navigation, in any manner the said city may deem expedient, and particularly, but without by such specific enumeration limiting the aforesaid purposes, for the purpose of establishing and maintaining thereon breakwaters, bulkheads, piers, wharves, docks, slips, basins, warehouses, transfer sheds, structures, roads, highways, railroads, railway terminals, lake and rail facilities and spurs for shipping, airports and other harbor facilities, including the right to lease, either for exclusive or common use, such particular parcel or parcels of said lands as said city may deem expedient to any party or parties for any purpose or use requiring, involving or connected with the construction, maintenance, operation or use of any of the aforesaid harbor or navigation facilities. (S. 1, Ch. 381, L. 1931.)
2. FOR PUBLIC USE. That portion of said lands above described lying between Wilcox street extended and Russell avenue extended, being unnecessary for purposes of navigation or other public uses or to preserve to the people the enjoyment of the waters upon or adjacent thereto, and the use hereinafter authorized neither injuriously affecting nor resulting in any impairment of the interest of the public in said waters but being in the interest of the public and in aid and improvement of the public use of the waters and lands for purposes of navigation and other public uses, and for the protection of the public docks, wharves, and harbor facilities which may be constructed adjacent thereto, the said city of Milwaukee is hereby authorized and empowered to fill in and reclaim, or agree to fill in and reclaim or cause to be filled in and reclaimed, any or all of said lands, and to convey to the owner or owners of the shore land adjacent thereto any or all of said lands in fee simple, either before or after filling in and reclaiming the same, in exchange for and in settlement of damages, in whole or in part, for the taking of lands of said owner or owners on the main land between said harbor entrance and Wilcox Street extended which said city may deem necessary and more advantageous for use by it for the purposes set forth in subsection [sub.] 1 hereof, and such owner or owners are authorized and empowered to fill in and reclaim any unfilled portions of said land and, in aid of commerce and navigation, to construct dock and wharf facilities on any of said land and to use any or all of said land for any proper purpose. (S. 1, Ch. 285, L. 1923.)
Source: City of Milwaukee Legislative Reference Bureau, Milwaukee City Charter and Code of Ordinances (city.milwaukee.gov master PDFs)URL: https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccClerk/Ordinances/City-Charter/CH20.pdf#page=5Fetched: 10/26/2026