The Great Lakes population of the piping plover was listed as endangered under provisions of the U.S. Endangered Species Act on January 10, 1986. The population declined from a historical population of several hundred breeding pairs to 17 breeding pairs in 1986. The initial decline of piping plovers was primarily due to hunting in the late 19^th century and early 20^th century until the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 stopped this activity.

Although populations began to recover, they started to decline again in the 1950s due to increasing habitat loss, recreational pressure, predation and contaminants. In the late 1970s to mid 1980s, high Great Lakes water levels temporarily reduced available nesting areas by flooding beaches. Since listing in 1986, the population has fluctuated between 12 and 25 breeding pairs with breeding areas largely confined to Michigan. The current small size of the Great Lakes piping plover population renders it extremely vulnerable to chance demographic or environmental events which could potentially eradicate this species from the region.

Michigan has a State piping plover recovery plan and recovery team, whose members meet annually to direct monitoring and management activities. In addition, coordination meetings take place regularly to organize seasonal field-based conservation efforts. Annual breeding site surveys are conducted in Michigan, and all located nests are monitored throughout the breeding season. Historical breeding areas are surveyed at least once every five years during the International Piping Plover Census.