SHEBOYGAN - Supporters of the proposed Wisconsin-Lake Michigan National Marine Sanctuary, from which outgoing Gov. Scott Walker withdrew support last March, hope the project may get new life after Tony Evers fills Walker's seat in January.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's original plans for the project included a sanctuary that would cover about 1,075 square miles of Lake Michigan. It would also protect 37 shipwrecks and 80 unexplored potential shipwrecks, as well as other cultural resources off the coasts of Manitowoc, Sheboygan and Ozaukee counties.

NOAA announced its intent to designate the area as a marine sanctuary in October 2015.

Several community leaders remain hopeful that under Tony Evers the proposal for the marine sanctuary could move forward.

"Even when Walker pulled the nomination we were still looking two steps forward," Manitowoc Mayor Justin Nickels said. "The communities are still gung-ho in favor of this."

Sheboygan Mayor Mike Vandersteen expressed similar support.

"We haven’t given up," Vandersteen said.

The details of contacting Evers haven't totally been worked out yet, Vandersteen said — part of the effort will be figuring out if those in favor need to write new letters of support.

NOAA will be able to negotiate the management of the plans once a governor is on board, Vandersteen said. "They never got to that point with Gov. Walker," he added.

Two Rivers City Manager Greg Buckley said the city is also still interested and was prepared to work with Walker if he won re-election.

Now that Evers will take his place, Buckley said supporters will try to work with him on the initiative.

"While there haven't been any formal communications to date, I expect we'll be reaching out," Buckley said.

Buckley said two of the "save our sanctuary" signs supporters used in March when Walker attended a Lincoln Day Dinner at the Lighthouse Inn in Two Rivers are still displayed at the city council chambers and are "emblematic of our city's continued support for the sanctuary."

An alternative plan proposed in late 2015 extended the sanctuary to waters off Kewaunee County, bringing the sanctuary to 1,260 square miles and protecting 38 shipwrecks and 95 unexplored potential shipwrecks.

More:Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker pulls Lake Michigan national marine sanctuary nomination

More:Proposed Lake Michigan marine sanctuary sparks fears of federal overreach

"Under Tony Evers and the new administration, they take a different view of some of these things and I think they’ll be receptive to a restart,” said Lee Luft, Kewaunee County board member.

Luft has been a strong supporter of the sanctuary and was the driving force behind having NOAA add the county to the proposal as an alternative.

Luft said Gov. Walker's withdrawal of support came unexpectedly and that Kewaunee would benefit from the economic development opportunities in the area.

"It's just one way to encourage visitors to the area," Luft said, "We just had so much interest and excitement."

Retired attorney and lakeshore landowner Judith Perlman declined to comment for this story. Perlman has been vocal about her opposition to the sanctuary, raising concerns over vague sanctuary rules.

More:Marine sanctuary 'a house of cards built on nothing' | Column

While supporters remain hopeful, NOAA confirmed the marine sanctuary is still on hold.

"The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries recognizes and appreciates that there may be renewed community interest in the designation process. However, NOAA is not taking any renewed action on the designation at this time," Vernon Smith, national media coordinator for the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, said in a statement.

Gov.-elect Evers could not be reached for comment on this story.