of Southeastern Wisconsin A Sweet Water Recap: Collaboration Over Combat Clean Rivers, Clean Lake Conference Milwaukee, WI May 1, 2014 Our Southeastern Wisconsin Watersheds Area: Watershed: (in sq. miles) Kinnickinnic River 24.7 Menomonee River 135.8 Milwaukee River 700.0 Oak Creek 28.2 Root River 197.6
Lake Michigan Direct Drainage Area 40.7 Total Square Miles: 1,127.0
Number of Counties: 9
Number of Local Municipalities: 83
Total Perennial River Miles: 600+ Overflows to Lake Michigan have dramatically declined after Milwaukees deep tunnel construction
1975 Rural- Agricultural Runoff 21% CSO's 49% Urban-Non- Agricultural Runoff 23% WWTP 5% SSO's 2% 2000 Rural- Agricultural Runoff 21% CSO's 7% Urban-Non- Agricultural Runoff 68% WWTP 2% SSO's 2% but the percentage of pollution from nonpoint sources has doubled Industrial Discharge 0% Industrial Discharge 0% Source Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission Southeastern Wisconsin Watersheds: Fecal Coliform Bacteria Loadings Sweet Waters Goals Make measurable progress in the regions water resources (with specific pollutant reductions and land restoration goals) Support land uses that improve water quality Forge relationships to leverage funds Recommend new water resource policies Implement cost-effective projects 5 Sweet Waters Board Officers: Nancy Frank, UW-Milwaukee Urban Planning Dept. Tom Grisa, City of Brookfield Dept. of Public Works David Lee, We Energies Members: Don Berghammer, Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation Brian Depies, Yaggy Colby Associates Sharon Gayan, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources Susan Greenfield, Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network Michael Hahn, SE Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission Andy Holschbach, Ozaukee County Land Management Dept. Ghassan Korban, City of Milwaukee Dept. of Public Works Ezra Meyer, Clean Wisconsin Peter McAvoy, UW-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences Neil Palmer, Village of Elm Grove Kevin Shafer, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District Dan Stoffel, 5 th Generation Farmer & Washington County Board 6 Key Sweet Water NGO Partners:
Prioritizing projects
Tracking emerging issues New water quality trading & phosphorus efforts Watershed- based storm water permitting effort
Menomonee River
Kinnickinnic River
Milwaukee River Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) projects
Research efforts in public knowledge
Regional Stormwater Outreach Campaign
Watershed Action Teams
Science Committee
Policy Committee
Sweet Water
New bacteria markers
Oak Creek
Sweet Water NGO Structure Future Watershed Action Teams:
Root River
Rural nonpoint pollution reduction work Milwaukee Riverkeeper American Rivers River Revitalization Foundation 16 th Street Community Health Center American Rivers Groundwork MKE Midwest Environmental Advocates Clean Wisconsin Milwaukee Riverkeeper River Alliance of WI Sand County Foundation Clean Wisconsin Milwaukee Riverkeeper Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network Communications Committee Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network Clean Wisconsin Sweet Water Teams Are Now Active in Three Watersheds Residential Stormwater BMP Projects (KK River Watershed) General Mills/Gardettos Parking Lot Retrofits (KK River Watershed) Sweet Waters $173K in Mini-grants Leveraged 55 Projects Across Region Advancing New Regional Water Quality Policy Efforts Four third-party TMDLs underway, with Sweet Water in outreach role Efforts to institute water quality trading in WI Secured $300K for Root River restoration plan, now underway, bridging a key border Fostered a first-in-US watershed-based storm water permit partnership in our Menomonee River watershed, linking 11 communities
Menomonee River Watershed-Based Permit Active Since January 2013 14 Finally, Sweet Waters Outreach Efforts Are Essential Values: lack of individual responsibility towards water quality 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 I do not see a role for myself in protecting the regions water resources. The actions of individuals do not have an impact on water quality and quantity Being a good steward of the environment is an important part of my faith. I have a responsibility to future generations to protect the regions water resources. % agreeing Public Education on Stormwater - A $440K, 5-year Partnership Underway Formal Successes Joyce Foundation funding In-kind support from MMSD, consultants, UWM & many others Diverse, dedicated board Collaborative mindsets Key wins Watershed-based permit, Respect Our Waters, mini-grants, conference built momentum
Informal Successes Increased communication between sectors Increased collaboration between partners Shared willingness to tackle complex problems when the best approach is unclear
For more info on Sweet Water visit www.swwtwater.org www.facebook.com/SE.WI.WatershedsTrust.org
or contact or visit Sweet Water at our UWM SFS offices 414-477-1156