Our Mission

Fostering the preservation of Door County’s natural resources through advocacy, education & action.

Causes We Support

  • Reducing Water Pollution

  • Beach Water Testing & Monitoring

  • Reducing Nonpoint Source Pollution

  • Implementing Best Practices in Agriculture

  • CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation) Regulation

  • Reducing Phosphorous Runoff

  • Protecting Wetlands & Waterways

  • Reversing Climate Change

  • Renewable Energy

  • Sustainable Development

  • Safe & Clean Drinking Water

  • Identifying & Protecting Endangered Species

The History of Door County Environmental Council

The Door County Environmental Council, Inc., informally known as "DCEC", was founded in 1969 and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 1971. Even then, caring citizens could see looming threats to the county's waters, bays, ever-changing shorelines, karst bluffs, sand dunes, woodlands, wetlands, farms, orchards and fields. Realizing that unrestrained commercial development and suburbanization would be disastrous for this beautiful section of the Niagara Escarpment, the group became an active force for preservation and protection.

Timeline

Milestones & Accomplishments

Organization founded by group of concerned Door County citizens.

1969

Incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

1971

Fought to ensure condominiums could not be built in agricultural zoning districts

1970s

Worked with the late Dr. James Zimmerman to map environmentally sensitive areas of Door County

1985

Founded the Door County Land Trust, Inc., to preserve and protect critical land areas throughout the county

1987

Petitioned for federal endangered status for the Dwarf Lake Iris

1988

Secured federal listing of the Hines Emerald Dragonfly as an endangered species

1995

Developed “Door County Citizens Guide to Small Wastewater Systems”

2003

Great Lakes Compact was signed after 7 years of advocacy by DCEC

2008

Partnered with Friends of Sturgeon Bay Waterfront to protect West Side waterfront from hotel development

2015

Funded private well testing in Door County

2016

Advocated against the Quarry RV Park and Forestville Millpond drawdown

2019

Supported planning and development of Mariners Park in Gills Rock

2019

Partnered with UW-Oshkosh beach water testing program to implement safety lights at beaches throughout Door County

2023

Meet Our Board Members

  • Emeil Marks

    President

  • Elizabeth Hansen

    First Vice President

  • Steve Eatough

    Treasurer

  • Paul Leline

    Secretary

  • Nathaniel Boutross

    Director

  • Patty Pratapas

    Director

  • Robert Sijgers

    Director

  • Mark Villers

    Director

  • Mike Bahrke

    Executive Director

  • Kaethe Gutierrez

    Communications Coordinator

  • Karen McCarthy

    Bookkeeper