RiversReport

FALL 2013 | VOlUME 4 NO. 4

DNR Issues Guidance and How-to Manual for Water Quality Trading
weet Water has encouraged the development of water quality trading in Wisconsin as a tool to costeffectively achieve improved water quality. Trading involves a point source that faces relatively high pollutant reduction costs compensating another party to Algae bloom in stream achieve less costly pollutant reduction to achieve the same or greater water quality benefit. In 2010, Sweet Waters Steering Council urged the Wisconsin DNR to move forward with developing a trading framework in line with a white paper and recommendations from Sweet Waters Policy Committee. Following meetings with Sweet Water and other stakeholders, the DNR issued a draft framework for water quality trading in July 2011. In September 2012, the Steering Council reaffirmed its support for development of trading and offered Sweet Waters encouragement and assistance to DNR in its efforts to enable water quality trading to be utilized in Wisconsin. In March 2013, the DNR issued a draft Guidance and How to Manual regarding water quality trading and solicited comments on the draft documents. In late August and early September, the DNR issued final versions of both documents, available at http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/SurfaceWater/ WaterQualityTrading.html.

Learning for life

DENNIS GRZEZINSKI, MIdWEST ENVIRONMENTal AdVOCaTES; EZRa MEYER, ClEaN WISCONSIN

Bluff overlooking Bradford Beach

Mark your calendars!

Our Holiday Party will be held December 5 at Riverfront Pizzeria Bar & Grill, 509 E. Erie Street in Milwaukees 3rd Ward.

Trading is a tool that may provide some point sources with greater flexibility in meeting their permit requirements. Trading in Wisconsin is not limited to discharges of phosphorus, but may be most applicable now to point sources which need to comply with recently tightened limits on phosphorus, and perhaps with limits on total suspended solids. The new DNR documents include some changes to trade ratios, including elimination of a reserve trade ratio in the draft documents, and modifications to trade ratios applicable to some agricultural practices. Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) allocations, essentially a pollution diet plan for dischargers to the Kinnickinnic, Menomonee, and Milwaukee River watersheds, are scheduled to be calculated later this year as requirement of the Clean Water Act. Many point sources expect the TMDLs will require them to reduce their discharges, so the potential flexibility available through trading should be of great interest to a broad audience of stakeholders in southeastern Wisconsin. The new DNR TMDL Guidance is the more technical of the two documents, and the How to Manual is directed to a more general audience. The Manual provides a clear explanation of the nature of trading, and a step-by-step outline of how a permittee can determine whether to consider using a trade to comply with its permit requirements, and if so, how to implement a trade. Copies of necessary forms, and examples of trading agreements and other documents are included as part of the Manual. Sweet Water will continue its outreach and educational efforts, as well as its work with partners and other stakeholders regarding trading, to improve water quality in our watersheds.

Inside this Issue

AOC Update.......................... 2 Sweet Water Update.............. 3 DNR Technical Standard........ 4 Research to Reduce Phosphorus Runoff................ 5 KK River Flood Management......................... 6 Retrofits for Green Infrastructure........................ 7 Events................................... 8

Good News for the Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern!

MEgaN OSHEa, WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

he Area of Concern received a considerable boost during the Great Lakes Week activities that were held in Milwaukee in September. That week, EPA announced that the Milwaukee Estuary would be the first recipient in 2013 of Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funds. In all, DNR received $1.5 million dollars for several multi-year projects that will help us make significant strides toward delisting the AOC. If Volunteer engaged in aesthetics youre interested, you can monitoring along KK River see the press release here: http://fyi.uwex.edu/aocs/?p=4332. With those funds, well be able to make progress on improving fish and wildlife populations, addressing recreational restrictions in the AOC, and determining the status of our benthic and planktonic communities.
Photo: Gail Epping Overholt Photo: Ozaukee County Fish Passage Project

the former North Avenue dam and the removal of five partial fish passage barriers on the Menomonee River (in Wauwatosa between Swan Blvd. and Harmonee Ave.). These projects, along with current in-stream work underway to improve fish passage by removing concrete lining just downstream on the Menomonee River near Miller Coors, will help us make good strides in improving habitat in the AOC over the next couple of years.
Photo: Gail Epping Overholt

Volunteers learning about beach assessment

With regard to cleaning up contamination, we are also gearing up for the second phase of the Lincoln Park Sediment Remediation Project. Last year, phase 1 was completed, and we are hopeful that well be able to start phase 2 next year. Weve also got ways for you to participate in improving the AOC. We have a volunteer aesthetics monitoring program that began last year and will continue for several years. Were always recruiting new volunteers. Contact me if youre interested and I can put you in touch with our volunteer coordinators. John Gurda is also doing a local lecture tour featuring the AOC that is free and open to the public. More information about that can also be found at the web link listed above. So what does this all mean? For almost every impairment we have or suspect could exist for the AOC (following the International Joint Commission guidelines about beneficial use impairments), theres some kind of action underway to do something about it, or to help us better understand it so that we can do something about it. To tell you more about our plans, weve developed the first annual Restoration Report that explains what we plan on tackling in the coming year. These also can be found on the website mentioned above. All in all, its been an eventful year!

Dam removal as part of Ozaukee Fish Passage Project

We also have several other activities that are underway in the AOC. This spring, USGS sampled 200 white suckers to determine if there were contaminant-related tumors presentthe existence of such tumors is suspected but has never been confirmed. Habitat in the AOC is also being improved through several grants that were leveraged this year, including the Greenway Gateway Restoration, which will take place on the west bank of the Milwaukee River just downstream of

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FALL 2013

A Sweet Water Review

JEFF MARTINKA, SWEET WATER

ts been a solid few months for the Sweet Water team, both in projects and in planning work. Heres a summary of particular initiatives and events:
2013 SWEET WATER HOLIDAY PARTY

Help Sweet Water thank its many partners for another year of hard work! Join us on Jeff Martinka Thursday, December 5th from 5 PM to 8 PM for our annual holiday party at the Riverfront Pizzeria located on the Milwaukee River at 509 E. Erie Street in the 3rd Ward. Well have great food and a variety of water-themed door prizes. Join us for good cheer and camaraderie with some of the best friends of Milwaukees watersheds.
MILWAUKEE TOTAL MAXImUm DAILY LOAD (TMDL) SChEDULE DELAYED

All information about stakeholder workshops and TMDL e-updates are provided via email. To be added to the list, send your email address to martinka@swwtwater.org. Sweet Water continues work with MMSD in engaging TMDL stakeholders. Four Sweet Water representatives serve on the TMDL Development Team.

According to plans revised last spring, the Milwaukee TMDLs were to be completed in October. That timeframe has been adjusted. This fall, the TMDL Development Teams efforts, led by CDM Smith, have focused on adjusting existing Water Quality Initiative models for determining the allowable loads for phosphorus, TSS, and bacteria in each river reach and the estuary. The estuary model adjustments have taken longer than anticipated. Because of this, the TMDL stakeholder workshop planned for October was postponed until late November, at the earliest. CDM Smith is working to complete the allocated loads as quickly as possible and once done, the TMDL load info will be posted on MMSDs TMDL web pages for review and presented at the next stakeholder meeting. The final TMDLs are still expected to be complete in December 2013. At that time, development of the TMDL implementation plan will start, with three additional stakeholder workshops planned.
Photo: Harley-Davidson Museum

Meredith Emmitt, Institute for Conservation Leadership, facilitating Sweet Waters meeting at Wingspread SWEET WATER PARTNERs GAThER AT WINgspREAD

The Sweet Water board and all key nonprofit partners of the organization met at Wingspread in October to review and renew our collaborative structure and goals. Thanks to the Johnson Foundation for hosting the group, and to the Mott Foundation for providing a supporting grant to the Institute for Conservation Leadership, which helped to organize the workday.
REVAmpED WEBsITE LAUNChED IN OCTOBER

Our new website launched in early October. The effort was led by Kate Morgan. Early work on the project was done by the volunteer team of John Hacker and Christine Leung. Final design for the site was done by DesignIt Lab. Special thanks to Sean McMahon, MMSD webmaster, for his time and expertise in the technical elements of the launch. Thank you to Christine and John for their on-going support of our websites!
SAVE ThE DATE ThE 10Th CLEAN RIVERs, CLEAN LAKE CONFERENCE - MAY 1sT, 2014

Our Planning Committee volunteers have been meeting and already, the 10th annual conference line-up is looking strong. Plan to attendThursday, May 1st at the Harley-Davidson Museum.
Harley-Davidson Museum site for 2014 conference

FALL 2013

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Technical Standard for Permeable Pavement in Development

PETE WOOd, WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Plan Your Groups Activities with a Sweet Water Mini-Grant

JOaN HERRIgES, SWEET WaTER
Photo: Urban Ecology Center

n cooperation with designers, contractors, industry experts and municipal representatives, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Standards Chicago green alley Oversight Council are in the process of developing a technical standard for permeable pavement systems. When finalized, this technical standard will establish design, construction and maintenance criteria for permeable pavement systems that will be used to meet state and local storm water management requirements.
Photo: chicagogatewaygreen.blogspot.com

Hayes Elementary School students at Urban Ecology Center

Permeable pavement systems include pervious concrete, porous asphalt, permeable interlocking concrete pavers and other similar surfaces that allow storm water to pass through the pavement surface rather than runoff directly to storm sewer systems and waterways. As a result, storm water pollutants are controlled by a combination of filtration through the permeable pavement surface and infiltration into the soils located below the pavement.

When nalized, this technical standard will establish design, construction and maintenance criteria...to be used to meet state and local stormwater management requirements.
The proposed technical standard includes a unique underdrain discharge credit that will allow permeable pavement systems to be used as filtration practices in areas where infiltration to native soils in not feasible or limited. An intensive monitoring project is underway in Middleton, Wisconsin to confirm the filtering capabilities of permeable pavement systems. The technical standard development committee is hopeful that the technical standard will adequately address any questions or concerns regarding the use of permeable pavement systems for storm water management in Wisconsin. A draft of the technical standard should be available for public review and comment before the end of this year. Our goal is to publish the final version of the technical standard in spring 2014.

weet Water can help you plan activities for your students, church, troop, youth group, non-profit, or civic organization if you apply for a Sweet Water mini-grant by November 15. The activity is sure to provide all the benefits that come with people joining together in a common goal, which is alleviating polluted storm water runoff by installing green infrastructure such as rain gardens, native and prairie plantings, and rain barrelsto name a few. How can you and your group use a mini-grant?

Are you a teacher? What about replacing some of that playground asphalt with trees or native plants? Its a great hands-on approach to learn about green infrastructure! Do you belong to a mosque, synagogue or church? They usually have property that may need landscapingwhy not install some rain barrels, or create a beautiful rain garden? What about you and your friends or your co-students? Student groups can use the activity to make a difference and socialize. Are you the program coordinator for a local youth group or a scout troop leader? This would be a fun outdoor activity with physical exercise and an educational component! Do you belong to a neighborhood or civic organization? Almost every community needs beautification projects why not create them with green infrastructure?

It can be fun to create cleaner water in southeastern Wisconsin how about it? To apply, visit swwtwater.org and scroll down on the home page.

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FALL 2013

Water Quality Trading Update

DaVId LEE, WE ENERgIES

Soils amended with gypsum have been proven to enhance water infiltration, improve soil chemistry, reduce nutrient runoff, and improve farm yields. If the gypsum treated agricultural lands in southeast Wisconsin were to have an average phosphorus index reduction from 6 to 2, there would be a regional reduction of about 4 pounds of phosphorus runoff/acre/year. Assuming 25 to 50% of these reductions result in a verifiable credit, there could be the potential for cumulative trades amounting to several hundred thousand pounds per year. Nutrient management and gypsum application is currently being done at the expense of the farmer. After this research is complete, the goal is to have a template whereby nutrient management and modeling can be used to predict phosphorus runoff reduction attributable to gypsum application BMPs. Farmers that make this investment in nutrient management and gypsum use would own these credits that become one more tradable commodity produced by the farm. Because

Algae fowling Lake Michigan

hanges in Wisconsin law and new DNR guidance documents have set the stage for water quality trading (WQT). Research being conducted by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and co-funded by We Energies and MMSD is aimed at making what was envisioned by lawmakers a reality. EPRIs team also includes the Sand County Foundation (SCF) and the University of Wisconsin (UW). Research is underway in the northern parts of the Milwaukee River watershed to evaluate how changes in agricultural practices can lead to reduced phosphorus runoff. This work includes a study of how land application of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum can reduce phosphorus runoff. FGD gypsum (calcium sulfate) is a high quality form of gypsum produced from emission control systems at coal-fueled power plants. Most FGD gypsum is beneficially used for drywall production and an increasing percentage is now going toward agricultural use as a soil amender. Research by EPRI and others established that FGD gypsum can be safely and beneficially used in agriculture to improve overall soil quality and crop yields. Development of economical practices to prevent loss of nutrients in runoff is the key to reducing agricultural non-point source pollution. Field-scale demonstrations being conducted by the UW and SCF will serve as the basis for developing best management practices (BMPs) to minimize phosphorus loss from agricultural fields to surface water. The project also includes an educational outreach component. The goal is that the development of nutrient management plans and the use of BMPs become readily transferable.

Algae bloom in inland lake

farmers are currently economically motivated to use gypsum, this existing soil amending technique can provide sustained long-term phosphorus runoff reduction. There are still research and WQT details to be worked out. Nevertheless, use of nutrient management and gypsum application appears to be both a cost-effective and sustainable practice that can make a difference in reducing phosphorus impacts on local waterways.

FALL 2013

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KK River Flood Management Project

DaVE FOWlER CFM, MIlWaUKEE METROpOlITaN SEWERagE DISTRICT
Photo: Gilkey Creek Restoration Project, Flint Michigan Photo: MMSD

A concrete lined stretch of the KK River

Artist rendering of the KK River without concrete

he Kinnickinnic River is the most urbanized watershed and channelized stream system in Milwaukee County. The 25-square mile watershed has a high percentage of impervious cover from roads, parking lots, buildings and other land coverage. Consequently, a greater fraction of rainfall is converted into runoff, runoff occurs more quickly, and floods become larger, and occur with greater frequency. To decrease flooding, a highly engineered drainage system consisting of concrete channels was constructed by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD). The most severe flooding on the Kinnickinnic River occurred in 1986 when an extremely unusual storm produced flows exceeding the one-percent probability flood flows and more recently in 2008 in the area between S. 6th to S. 16th Street. Between South 6th Street and South 16th Street, the Kinnickinnic River is tightly bound by residential properties and limited open space. This reach has the steepest channel side slopes and the highest flow velocities and has 300 residential properties at risk of flooding. The flood flow velocities in this area can reach 20 feet per second creating extremely unsafe conditions and have contributed to several drowning deaths. These channel characteristics do not enhance the neighborhood environment, and are a threat to public safety. To deal with these issues, a Kinnickinnic River Stakeholder group was convened by MMSD to review alternatives to address these concerns.

The MMSD and stakeholders concluded that the concrete channels were no longer providing the services as originally intended. A final alternative was reviewed and approved by the stakeholder group. The approved alternative now referred to as The Kinnickinnic River Flood Management Project consisted of widening the river channel, removing the concrete channels, and a vegetated trapezoidal channel with a floodplain reconnected to the river to store flood water. As part of this alternative decision, 83 homes along the river between 6th 27th Street Corridor would have to be removed. The initial stages of the project began in 2009 with home acquisition and removal. It is anticipated that all 83 residential properties will be acquired by 2016. Consistent with community priorities identified by the stakeholders, MMSD had two major goals for the property acquisition and home removal: 1) have as little negative impact on the community as possible and 2) incorporate job training for local workers. In addition the MMSD completed a neighborhood plan to maximize, support community and economic development initiatives and provide long-term community value and improvements to quality of life. This neighborhood planning document is currently being used by community groups to prepare the community for the new KK River that will emerge from this project.

Presenters Sought for 2014 Clean Rivers, Clean Lake Conference

TINa KROENINg. SWEET WaTER

S
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weet Waters conference planning team is beginning to plan for the 10th Annual Clean Rivers, Clean Lake Conference. This year we are issuing a Request for Presentations (RFP) to anyone interested in speaking on a water quality related topic at the 2014 event. The conference will be held on Thursday, May 1st, 2014 at the Harley-Davidson Museum, overlooking the Menomonee River near downtown Milwaukee. Continued on page 8

FALL 2013

SEaN FOlTZ, AMERICaN RIVERS

merican Rivers has been busy over the last several years connecting businesses, schools and churches to funding programs set up to help supplement the Before green roof installation cost of retrofitting their properties with green infrastructure. These retrofits help infiltrate the amount of stormwater that runs into our local rivers and eventually Lake Michigan; improving water quality and helping to abate flooding. The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, Sweet Water and the Fund for Lake Michigan have all played a role in supplementing many of the completed projects.
Photo: American Rivers

Pike River in winter

he completed written plan for the Pike River Watershed Restoration, also known as Pike River Future, was introduced to the public this September. The presentation included a summary of the 10 most critical projects for restoration. Exhibits featured recent restoration work completed and planned for the Pike River and the water quality monitoring that is still underway. Planning began in September 2011. Twelve meetings were held with 140 people having attended one or more meetings. Citizens in the Pike River Watershed were also invited to express their concerns about the river in an online survey; more than 100 people responded. The first year of the two-year project focused on engaging people from all walks of lifeproperty owners along the river, fishermen, farmers, scientists, paddlers, public officials and river groupsthrough a series of meetings and online surveys, culminating in a visioning session, where participants selected the goals for the written plan. In the second year, an Advisory Group of interested citizens and public officials met regularly with a professional planning firm to advise on the development of the Pike River watershed restoration plan. The plan identifies critical areas for restoration and recommends specific actions, lead organizations for implementing each project, prioritized projects and provides a timetable, estimates costs and potential funding sources. The Pike River planning is funded by Fund for Lake Michigan and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The planning effort is led by Root-Pike WIN in partnership with Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum and UW- Extension.

J.W. Winco a major supplier of standard industrial machine components in New Berlin, Wisconsin, recently completed installation of a green roof system on its manufacturing facility. MMSD funding covered 29% of the cost of the project. This 15,800 square foot green roof is now one of the largest in the state, and is capturing over 18,000 gallons of stormwater during a 1-inch event. The sedum used on the roof was grown locally by Hanging Gardens. The green roof will now greatly reduce heating and cooling costs, lower energy usage, improve air quality, increase urban green space, extend the roof After green roof installation life and reduce J.W. Wincos stormwater fee paid to the city. J.W. Winco is also working with American Rivers on retrofitting their 2 acre parking lot with a combination of bioswales and porous pavement in the coming year. If you are interested in learning more about this project, available funding programs or green infrastructure in general, please contact me at sfoltz@americanrivers.org or 414-727-2292.
Photo: American Rivers

FALL 2013

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Photo: MarkCz.com

Partnerships Advance Green Infrastructure Retrots

Pike River Restoration Plan Released

SUSaN GREENfIEld, ROOT-PIKE WIN

Continued from page 6 Each year, the conference provides participants with exposure to the latest information on key water quality challenges, policy updates, and restoration initiatives taking place in the rivers of southeastern Wisconsin, their watersheds and Lake Michigan. The event provides an important forum for over 300 participants to network at one of the largest annual gatherings of the best friends of our rivers and Lake Michigan in hopes of stimulating conversation for new tactics that will advance local, regional, and national watershed restoration goals. Past conferences have addressed a very broad range of issues facing our regions waters, including green infrastructure, water policy innovations, climate change impacts and agricultural/nonpoint runoff solutions. A list of specific themes we would like to incorporate into the 2014 conference can be found on the RFP document posted on Sweet Waters website at swwtwater.org. The RFP includes evaluation criteria and a simple on-line application to use for submissions. The application submission deadline is November 15th, 2013 and should be emailed to info@swwtwater.org. We hope to gain a wide variety of application submissions making this the best Clean Rivers, Clean Lake Conference yet. Get those submissions in!

Upcoming Events
Wednesday, November 13 Menomonee River Watershed Action Team Meeting
3:00 PM 5:00 PM West Lawn Gardens 5555 N. 62nd Street Milwaukee For information contact Cheryl Nenn at (414) 287-0207 x2 or Sean Foltz at (414) 727-2292

Wednesday, November 20 Webinar: Adapting to Adaptive Management

NOON 2:00 PM University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Milwaukee School of Continuing Education For more information http://www4.uwm.edu/sce/course. cfm?id=27963

Now through Thursday, November 14 Milwaukee Estuary stakeholders Invited review of Remedial Action Plan feedback
Go to: http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/ greatlakes/documents/Milwaukee RAPUpdateDraft.pdf For information contact Megan OShea: megan.oshea@wisconsin.gov

Wednesday, December 4 John Gurdas Built on Water

7:00 PM Discovery World 500 N. Harbor Drive | Milwaukee

Thursday, December 5 Sweet Water Holiday Party

5:00 PM 8:00 PM Riverfront Pizzeria Bar & Grill 509 E. Erie Street | Milwaukee

Saturday, November 16 Albertas Oil Sands: A visit to the Heart of the Industry
10:00 AM NOON Urban Ecology Center 1500 E Park Place Milwaukee

Thursday, December 19 Milwaukees Home GR/OWN Initiative Public Forum

6:30 PM 7:30 PM Urban Ecology Center 1500 E. Park Place | Milwaukee For information, contact Jamie Ferschinger at jferschinger@urbanecologycenter.org

RiversReport
Sweet Water 600 East Greenfield Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53204 382-1766 WEB swwtwater.org EMAIL martinka@swwtwater.org morgan@swwtwater.org
PHONE (414)

PARTNERS
MANAGING EDITOR Kate Morgan, Sweet Water

Learning for life

University of Wisconsin Extension 9501 W. Watertown Plank Road Wauwatosa, WI 53226
PHONE (414)

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Jeff Martinka, Sweet Water Gail Epping Overholt, UW-Extension This publication made possible in part through the generous support of

256-4632 WEB naturalresources.uwex.edu EMAIL gail.overholt@ ces.uwex.edu

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FALL 2013