U.S. Proposes New Marine Sanctuaries

President Obama has proposed two new marine sanctuaries in Lake Michigan and the tidal waters of Maryland. These waters in the United States are the first to be proposed as such in 15 years, the White House said in a statement.

The 875-square mile area of Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan extends from Port Washington to Two Rivers, containing a collection of 39 known shipwrecks. Fifteen are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Mallows Bay-Potomac River in Maryland encompasses a 14-square mile area of the tidal Potomac River next to Charles County. Nearly 200 vessels, some dating to the Revolutionary War, are found in the largely undeveloped area that provides habitat for endangered species of wildlife and fish.