RiversReport

WINTER 2014 | VOLUme 5 nO. 1

Photo: Kate Morgan

Great Lineup for the 10th Annual Clean Rivers, Clean Lake Conference
TinA KrOeninG, Sweet WAter

Learning for life

Winter Sunset on Lake Michigan

Mark your calendars!

May 1, 2014 8:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. Harley-Davidson Museum

Clean Rivers, Clean Lake Conference

A Milwaukee Riverkeeper tour passes by the Harley-Davidson Museum

Inside this Issue

AOC Update.......................... 2 Sweet Water Update.............. 3 Rain Garden Program............. 4 Labeling Storm Events........... 5 Mini-Grant Awards................. 6 Allies for Protection................ 7 Events................................... 8

his springs 10th Annual Clean Rivers, Clean Lake Conference will be the best yet. It will be held on Thursday, May 1st at the Harley-Davidson Museum at 400 W. Canal Street in Milwaukees revitalized Menomonee Valley. The conference will again include both day and evening events, with programming running from 8:00 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. The day program will include three plenary sessions and more than 25 regional and local water quality experts oering multiple workshops in four tracks. Conference plenary speakers include U.S. Water Alliance Executive Director Ben Grumbles discussing urban pollution

reduction innovations, a look at rural nonpoint pollution solutions from former NRCS Chief David White, a State of the Lakes address by Dean David Garman and Dr. Sandra McLellan from the UWM School of Freshwater Sciences and an expert panel outlining climate change impacts on regional infrastructure. Workshop topics will include regional water project updates, new agriculture sector pollution research, water quality trading updates (including the new phosphorus proposal), economic impact assessments of cleaner waters, and the latest briengs in successful use of permeable pavement and other green infrastructure. Continued on page 5

Photo: Eddee Daniel

MMSD Accepting Applications for Green Infrastructure Partnership Program

KAren SAnds, MiLwAUkee MetrOpOLitAn SewerAGe District

Strong Partnerships Advance Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern Goals

GAiL EppinG OVerhOLt, UW-EXtensiOn

ilwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) has a long-term goal to add 740 million gallons of stormwater capacity through green infrastructure (GI). To accomplish this, MMSD is seeking community partners to apply for GI partnership funding and build projects. The Green Infrastructure Partnership Program is a competitive program that provides cost incentives for community partners (public and private) that are interested in installing green infrastructure on their property. The program includes green roof incentive funding and a special application for Signature Projects that can be funded up to a 50% match. Community partners interested in funding through this program must ll out an application and submit it to MMSD for review by March 31, 2014. Green infrastructure reduces water pollution by managing water where it falls through mimicking more natural processes. Funding awarded under this program will be used to help MMSD meet a new discharge permit requirement to add GI capacity and will also help meet the goal of adding 740 million gallons of capacity! Innovative use of green infrastructure is encouraged under the program. Last year, MMSD provided incentive funding for 21 green infrastructure projects totaling more than 3.8 million gallons of GI capacity. The application can be found here: http://h2ocapture.com/Learn/FundingPrograms/GI-Partnership-Project

his past year, I had the good fortune to work with some amazing volunteers and community partners to tell a story about the waters in Milwaukee that we refer to as the Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern. Quickly, it is evident that there is no ONE story. There are so many dierent perspectives and experiences, so many dierent objectives and projects. To begin, Urban Ecology Center volunteers are trained to rate river aesthetics, while other volunteers collect trash and debris by canoe. Groundwork Milwaukee encouraged people to pledge to help improve the rivers by changing daily habits. John Gurda, local historian and author captivated almost 1000 people throughout the Milwaukee River Basin from Newburg to Milwaukees southside with a lively, illustrated look at the lake and its adjacent waterways. Programs like these share the good work being done right here in Milwaukee to help our rivers heal. Maybe the words of those who lived it, learning and exploring will encourage you to keep a lookout for more to come in 2014. The following are excerpts from comment forms and evaluations from 2013 outreach programs:

Very well done water future needs this type of program The new restored KK looks so much better than at a cleanup I did 5-10 years ago! What a juxtaposition between the river being revitalized and the old concrete channels. While not a formal part of the hike, the kids playing along the restored bank exemplies the social value of the restoration project (Kinnickinnic River Restoration) making it a better, safer, neighborhood environment for kids in this densely developed area. Kids cant engage with a concrete channel. Excellent program it would be great to specically channel the enthusiasm . generated by the talk to concrete ways to help the revitalization eort. Very important content. More younger people need to hear it. Amazing information I learned so much, good research and factual data Outstanding people who really care about water Excellent, it is good that it is being presented in so many areas. Great way to draw attention to our precious resource.

While we cant recreate these experiences via the web, we are pleased to oer a video taping of the BUILT ON WATER: Milwaukees Vital Resource lecture by John Gurda. Visit fyi.uwex.edu/aocs/ to link to the video. Thanks to Mark Winter and Alisha Haywood at the Art Institute of Wisconsin for video production.
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Photo: Gail Epping Overholt

A Report on the Start of Sweet Waters Year

JEFF MARTINKA, SWEET WATER

I
Jeff Martinka

ts been a winter that has tested the will of hardy Wisconsinites. As one measure, I am fearful that the need to keep our roadways safe has meant that the chloride levels in area streams are up. In spite of the tough temperatures, Sweet Water partners have been active. Heres a roster of recent Sweet Water eorts:

stormwater pollution education work in 2014 and 2015. We learned in January that grants totaling $160,000 over 2 years have been approved. Learn more at respectourwaters.org.
Photo: City of Milwaukee

MilwaUKee TOTal MaXimUm DailY LOad (TMDL) DraFTs NOw aT WI DNR FOr ReView

RipariaN DesigN PrOJecT STarTed iN JaNUarY

With support from the Fund for Lake Michigan and the Joyce Foundation, Sweet Water partners and members of Sweet Waters Science Committee have begun work on prioritizing streambank projects in the Menomonee and Kinnickinnic River watersheds in January. Starting with a Milwaukee County streambank analysis done in 2004, the group is creating a decision matrix protocol to select up to ten sites for further consideration. Sta at Inter-Fluve, a river restoration engineering rm, will then complete concept designs and budgets for those locations, equipping the Sweet Water team to pursue funding options. The project is expected to be completed next fall.
MUlTi-Year GIS TargeTed WOrK COmpleTed iN JaNUarY

Capping years of GIS mapping work and with the support of the Joyce Foundation, MMSD, and Brico Fund, Sweet Water interns have completed work to pinpoint 400 key commercial properties in the Kinnickinnic and Menomonee River watersheds that, based on pollutant loading and impermeable surface analysis, are prime candidates for the installation of best management/green infrastructure practices. The parcels are targeted for an outreach eort this year.
CONgraTs TO OUr LaTesT MiNi-graNT WiNNers!

On December 31st, CDM Smith presented drafts of the third party Milwaukee TMDL studies to the WI DNR for review. The TMDL project Bio-swale installation at Westlawn Gardens in Milwaukee started in mid-2011 and will create phosphorus, total suspended solids (TSS), and bacteria TMDLs for the Kinnickinnic, Menomonee, and Milwaukee Rivers and the Milwaukee estuary and harbor. The eort is sponsored by MMSD, with CDM Smith as the primary contractor and with partial support provided by EPAs Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grants. Because of the complexity of the studies and modeling work that created them, the TMDLs have been delayed twice from the original schedule. The DNR review is expected to take several months. The nal TMDLs and supporting information will then be presented to stakeholders and the public and submitted to the US EPA for its analysis and approval. The approval process will include a formal public hearing and a series of meetings between WI DNR sta and water quality permit holders in the region. Once the TMDLs are submitted to EPA, the CDM Smith team will develop the TMDL implementation plans, with additional stakeholder workshops planned for 2014. As always, information about the Milwaukee River Basin TMDLs is available at all times on the MMSD webpage at mmsd.com (click on the Water Quality Research link on the MMSD homepage). Information on all past TMDL stakeholder and public meetings, including maps, meeting notes and presenter slides, are available there.
New WiscONsiN PHOspHOrUs RUles UNder ReView

In December, our four mini-grant panelists decided on eleven Sweet Water mini-grant winners, drawing from a strong base of 31 applicants. See the mini-grant story for details. To see a map of the mini-grant projects completed in the prior 4 years, visit http://swwtwater.com/green-infrastructure.
GOOd News ON THe SparKles/RespecT OUr WaTers CampaigN

Sparkles, our spokesperson for Respect Our Waters

Sweet Water and our partner Root-Pike WIN completed applications for WI DNR grants for Milwaukee County and the Village of Mount Pleasant last year to continue our Sparkles

As a regional, multi-stakeholder collaborative, Sweet Water partners have widely-divergent views on the proposed new phosphorus rules under consideration in Madison. The Sweet Water Board held a special session in February to discuss its response to the proposal. In the meanwhile, Sweet Waters Continued on page 8

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Keeping the Fresh Coast Fresh with Rain Gardens

Bre McDOnALd, MiLwAUkee MetrOpOLitAn SewerAGe District

olluted stormwater runo is one of the biggest threats Milwaukee-area waterways face. We can all be a part of the solution and protect our waterways by capturing polluted or excess stormwater in rain gardens. Rain gardens are shallow Reviewing the design before planting depressions in the landscape that are planted with owers and grasses. They reduce water pollution by managing water where it falls by mimicking more natural inltration processes.
Photo: MMSD

For the last 8 years, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) in partnership with The Graham-Martin Foundation and Agrecol, have provided a rain garden plant sale oering reduced-price rain garden plants to residents within the MMSD sewer service area. Native plants oered through this program are sold up to 50% o retail prices. The program is currently taking orders; just visit http:// h2ocapture.com/learn/funding-programs/rain-gardensproject to see what plants are available and ll out your order form. All orders and payments must be received by March 17. The pick-up date for all orders will be May 17 from 9:00 a.m. to noon at MMSDs Headquarters, 260 W. Seeboth Street. For more information, please submit questions to raingardens@mmsd.com.
Photo: MMSD

Rain gardens collect rain and melting snow from nearby impervious areas such as patios, parking lots and roofs, naturally absorbing water into the ground. When water is inltrated into the ground it helps recharge groundwater levels, reduces stormwater entering area waterways, and lters out pollutants that are swept from impervious areas. If planted with native species, rain gardens provide habitat for pollinators such as birds, bees and butteries.

All hands on deck for planting day

Improving Green Infrastructure Outreach with GIS

Vince FerGUsOn, Sweet WAter

weet Water has completed an analysis of impervious surfaces in the Menomonee and Kinnickinnic watersheds and identied 414 highpriority parcels for green infrastructure development. This project was begun in the summer of 2012 and had three steps: 1) Identify commercial parcels where green infrastructure would have the greatest impact, 2) Contact the owners of those parcels, and, 3) Assist land owners interested in taking action with planning and construction. . is January, the rst step came to a close. To nd the most Th eective locations for green infrastructure, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software was used to identify areas with the highest density of impervious surfaces. By building green infrastructure in these impervious hotspots, each installation

will be able to capture more runo from the surrounding area, and make a greater impact on water quality. The commercial parcels in these hotspots were then listed in fact sheets displaying aerial photo maps, contact information for each parcel owner, land use descriptions, and pollutant loading estimates for the surrounding area. The results from the projects rst year have already sparked successful installations in the Kinnickinnic watershed such as the permeable pavement retrot at the General Mills facility in Milwaukee, assisted by American Rivers. In the future, these completed fact sheets will make it simpler and more cost-eective to build green infrastructure where its needed most. This GIS project was supported by Joyce Foundation and Brico Fund grants to Sweet Water. The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District provided a GIS work station and IT support for Sweet Waters GIS Interns, who were guided by the members of Sweet Waters GIS Committee.

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he January 9, 2014 edition of the Water Environment Federations Stormwater Report, an online publication, featured an article written by Tom Grisa, Director of Public Works for the City of Brookeld and Sweet Waters Vice President of the Board of Directors. The article Tom Grisa, City of Brookeld describes an alternative method of describing extreme rainfall events to improve the publics understanding of these events that seem not to be as rare as one might suppose given the current labels we use for them.

Relabeling Extreme Rainfall Events to Improve Public Understanding T

a single day over the past year on their website.

An excerpt of this article is provided below. A link to the full article can be found at the end of this excerpt. The 100-year rain storm is poorly understood by the public earthquakes, tornadoes, and hurricanes are not rated using recurrence intervals they use straightforward scales, such as the Richter, Fujita, and Sar-Simpson scales that rate the severity of the event, not the rarity of the event. The public understands that, in general, the higher the number, the worse the event. The rating system proposed in this article changes the designation from a recurrence interval to a simple scale for presentation to the public in much the same way that a graphic user interface makes computer programs easier to use. Read the full article at http://stormwater.wef.org/2014/01/ relabeling-extreme-rainfall-events-improve-publicunderstanding/

Tom came up with this idea subsequent to the City of Brookeld experiencing multiple 100 year rain storms in just over a decade (ve in 14 years to be more precise) and trying to explain how this could happen to the public. Tom thinks this approach has real merit and so do others. According to WEF, this article broke the record for most visited page on

For a 2nd year, we oer an evening event for the public. This year well have an engaging look at both the history and the current realities of the Lake Michigan shing industry, featuring a WI DNR sheries expert and presentation from shing family representatives from Jones Island to Two Rivers. The registration fee is $75 in advance; $90 after March 31. Lake Michigan Stakeholder members as of 12/2013 who cite their LMS membership when they register can get a $20 discount o those prices. It includes all presentations, conference materials, luncheon, and parking. All full-day participants will also receive a free Harley-Davidson Museum pass. For those attending just the evening event, the cost is $5. Registration for the conference is available on-line at swwtwater.org. For more information, please call (414) 382-1766.

he featured artist for this years conference is photographer and author Eddee Daniel. Eddee was also chosen this year to be the Menomonee Valleys rst artist-in-residence. His photography can be viewed at his website eddeedaniel.com; his environmental writing can be found at http://urbanwilderness-eddee.blogspot.com.

Eddee Daniel Featured Conference Artist T

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Photo: Eddee Daniel

Conference continued from page 1

Sweet Water Awards 12 Mini-Grants to Improve Area Rivers

JOAn HerriGes, SWEET WATER
Photo: Water Council

weet Water was recently proud to announce 12 winners in its 2013 Water Quality Mini-Grant Program that support projects improving area rivers and Lake Michigan. Our 2013 request for proposals (RFP) was released last September and submissions were accepted until November 15.

Director Je Martinka noted. We received 31 strong proposals from groups across all ve southeastern Wisconsin watersheds, showing the desire of organizations in the entire region to make our streams, rivers, beaches, and Lake Michigan more safe and enjoyable. When completed, these projects will improve water quality in the Milwaukee, Menomonee, Kinnickinnic, and Root Rivers; Oak Creek; and Lake Michigan. A list of the grant recipients, their project name, and the aected water body follows:

Friends of Hart Park: Hart Park Native Plant Restoration Project Menomonee River Groundwork Milwaukee: Best Management Practices (BMPs) Education & Demonstrations in the KK River Corridor Kinnickinnic River Little League Baseball, Inc.: Craig Counsell Park Storm Water Improvements Milwaukee River Milwaukee Audubon Society, Inc.: Fish Passage Restoration Cross-Vane Installations Milwaukee River . ilwaukee Riverkeeper: Illicit Discharge Detection M Using Sewage-Sning Dogs Menomonee River River Bend Nature Center: WATERshed Education Program Root River and Oak Creek Straightway Vineyard Christian Fellowship, Inc.: Vineyard Community of Hope Rain Garden Menomonee River The Prairie School: The Prairie School Stream Water Testing Project Root River Trinity Church: Green Infrastructure Education Program Targeting Faith Communities Menomonee River Urban Anthropology, Inc.: Family Tree III Project Kinnickinnic River Urban Ecology Center: Washington Park Naturalization Project Milwaukee and Menomonee Rivers Walnut Way Conservation Corporation: Rain Water Catchment for Irrigation on a Hoop House Milwaukee River

Getting ready to install their rain barrel

The grant applications were scored and ranked by a panel of four volunteers representing the regional water sector. They convened in December to determine which proposals best fullled the criteria outlined in the RFP. Nearly $50,000 to fund the projects was generously provided by grants to Sweet Water from the Fund for Lake Michigan, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, and CH2M HILL.
Photo: Water Council

The Water Council team making rain barrel deliveries

The aim of the Water Quality Mini-Grant Program is to support local, grassroots eorts that employ green infrastructure practices and water quality-related activities that will improve water quality, enhance conservation, restore habitat or educate people about these issues and associated stewardship actions. Our review panel encourages grassroots organizations to partner with local governments and businesses on eorts that meet Sweet Waters overall water quality goals. We were pleased that a number of grassroots organizations applied that had never done so before, Sweet Water Executive

The grant checks will be distributed to the awarded groups during an evening program at Sweet Waters Clean Rivers, Clean Lake Conference at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee on May 1st. Information about the conference can be found at swwtwater.org.

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Wisconsin Waterfowl Association Allies in Watershed Protection and Restoration

Peter ZieGLer, WiscOnsin WAterfOwL AssOciAtiOn
Photo: WI Waterfowl Association

Restored wetland at Mequon Nature Preserve

Photo: WI Waterfowl Association

isconsin Waterfowl Association is dedicated to Wisconsins waterfowl and wetland conservation. Wetlands play an integral role in the ecosystem far beyond waterfowl which is why Wisconsin Waterfowl Association (WWA) has developed and implemented an ecosystembased approach to its wetland restoration projects.

of available funding through grants and fundraising eorts is one way we have built partnerships and restorations. WWA continuously works with private and public landowners. Wetlands have been drained for years, negatively impacting our rivers and wetland habitat. Restoring a ditched and drained natural kettle basin resulted in many benets for the watershed. The natural topography was restored and sediment removed resulting in a 10 acre emergent marsh. The marsh now retains water year-round storing it during ood periods instead of discharging it into the Milwaukee River. It helps mitigate ooding while producing a high quality habitat and recharging groundwater. Private landowners can receive technical and cost-share assistance from WWA through our habitat program. One of the most publicly visible projects completed by WWA is the restoration of wetlands and Trinity Creek at the Mequon Nature Preserve. Working with multiple partners, WWA headed the restoration of the wetlands at the preserve. The removal of miles of drain tile, ditches and tons of sediment from historic wetland areas has resulted in 25+ acres of restored wetlands. These types of restorations greatly improve water quality through the reduction in sediment from erosion and decreased nutrient inputs from runo. They also help mitigate ooding with the removal of articial drainage allowing the soil to store tons of water naturally where plants can utilize it. With quality restorations and good partnerships we continue to develop opportunities to further wetland restoration at MNP and the area through broadening partnerships.

Working throughout the state for 30 years we have appreciated working with over 50 organizations to create viable restorations on thousands of acres of wetlands, streams and prairies. All three of these landscapes play an important role when you look at a project at the ecosystem scale.
Newly restored streambank

WWA has been fortunate to implement many of its ecosystem based restoration projects in the Milwaukee and Menomonee River watersheds. For example, last year the establishment of over 100 acres of native grass came about when WWA joined forces with our longtime partner US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to take full advantage of grant funds WWA had to oer. USFWS was able to use a portion of the grant funds to plant a warm season native mix on private land. This grassland cover is extremely important for water quality and wildlife as it holds soil in place, creates a diverse habitat which supports a broader range of species and reduces runo. The promotion
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Sweet Water Update continued from page 3 many partners in the region are encouraged to voice their own perspectives on the bill. The proposal has been added to the content of the March 6th UWM Continuing Education phosphorus compliance class organized by River Alliances Chris Clayton.
Photo: Eddee Daniel

Upcoming Events
Wednesday, February 26
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Boerner Botanical Gardens 9400 Boerner Drive | Hales Corners For information, contact info@rootpikewin.org or (262) 898-2055 RSVP to aallen@sewrpc.org

Root Pike River Planning Meeting

Wednesday, April 30
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Youth & the Environment: Engaging the Next Generation in Conservation Urban Ecology Center Menomonee Valley 3700 W. Pierce St. | Milwaukee

Lake Michigan Stakeholders Meeting

Thursday, March 6

Phosphorus Compliance Innovations to Improve Water Quality 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
MeNOmONee WaTersHed STOrmwaTer PermiT ParTNers MaKiNg PrOgress

For more information, contact Sherrill Anderson at sherrill@lnrp.org or visit www.lakemichiganstakeholders.org

Plankinton Building 161 West Wisconsin Ave. | Milwaukee For information about the course, go to or contact Murali Vedula at mvedula@uwm.edu or (414) 227-3121

Thursday, May 1
Clean Rivers, Clean Lake Conference
8:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. Harley-Davidson Museum 400 West Canal St. | Milwaukee More information and registration, visit swwtwater.org and follow the link in the conference story or call (414) 382-1766.

At a joint meeting of the 11 Menomonee stormwater permit municipalities in February, the group is expected to approve two key benchmarks of their rst-in-the-nation partnership. A subcommittee led by Milwaukees Tim Thur has drafted a procedure for submitting and selecting joint stormwater projects and another, chaired by Menomonee Falls Je Nettesheim, has crafted a common protocol for detecting and handling illicit discharges in the regional sewer systems. Both products were outlined as components of the new Watershedbased Stormwater Permit.

March 18 19

Annual Great Lakes Area of Concern Webinar

EPA Region 5 Oce Ralph Metcalfe Federal Building 77 West Jackson Blvd. | Chicago, IL Register at http://www.epa.gov/ greatlakes/aoc/ Or contact John Perrecone at (312) 353-1149 or perrecone.john@epa.gov

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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