RiversReport

FALL 2012 | VoLume 3 no. 4

Photo: Kate morgan

Collaboration Leads to Watershed Based Permit for Menomonee River Watershed

Tom GRISA, CITY oF BRooKFIeLD
Photo: Sweet Water

Learning for life

in 2007, including: the cities of Brookfield, Greenfield and Wauwatosa, and the Villages of Butler, Elm Grove, Germantown, Menomonee Falls, and West Milwaukee. Also involved in this process were additional municipal governments such as the cities of Milwaukee, Mequon and West Allis, and Milwaukee County.

Atwater Beach

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Watershed Based Permit working group

ollaborate. Merriam-Websters dictionary defines this word as:

1] to work jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual endeavor, 2] to cooperate with or willing assist an enemy of ones country and especially an occupying force, 3] to cooperate with an agency or instrumentality with which one is not immediately connected. In some cases, you need to find the dictionary meaning that applies directly to your intent of the word you chose. In this case, all three meanings apply to the process we embarked upon when developing a Watershed Based Permit for the Menomonee River Watershed (albeit, definition 2 could be considered by some to be a bit overstated though at times it may have felt this way). In all, there were twenty-one others working together in this intellectual endeavor. They consisted of the original 8 municipalities from the Menomonee River Watershed Group who received a group stormwater permit from the DNR

Others who collaborated in the process were other governmental or quasi-governmental agencies such as the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD), the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and the University of Wisconsinextension. Rounding out this group were several non-governmental organizations including the Southeastern Wisconsin Watershed Trust, Inc., 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, Clean Wisconsin, and Midwest Environmental Advocates. The MMSD received a grant from USEPA (Region 5) to develop a framework for such a permit in this watershed bringing needed funding together for this effort. This area was one of only three selected in the country for this type of work. What we found truly unique about this process is the amount of cooperation each member of each organization and agency exhibited in moving us toward a watershed based stormwater permit that each municipality could agree upon. The diverse interests of those at the table normally would make this a challenge. But the cooperative Continued on page 3

Inside this Issue

Agriculture Project .................... 2 Sweet Water update ................. 3 mini-grant Projects.................... 4 urban Gardens ......................... 6 AoC Annual meeting ................. 7 events ...................................... 8

BMP tour at Kevin Thulls farm (top); Infiltration field at Tim Dobberphuls farm (bottom)

Agricultural Project Breaks Ground in Ulao Creek Watershed

ChRIS CLAYTon, RIVeR ALLIAnCe oF WISConSIn

f Sweet Water is to make progress in improving water quality, it is clear that we must deal with runoff from the rural landscape, along with urban runoff. It makes sense. After all, the Milwaukee River drains large portions of four countiesFond du Lac, Sheboygan, Washington, and Ozaukeeand this area is dominated by wide-open farmland. The Ozaukee County Land and Water Management Department and the River Alliance of Wisconsin have recently started a project on the 4,000 acres of farmland draining to Ulao Creek, a tributary of the Milwaukee River. This project will identify farmlands that pose a higher risk of delivering phosphorus and sediment to Ulao Creek and target phosphorus-reducing practices to those farm fields. Sweet Water partners will explore taking advantage of new

opportunities in the states phosphorus control policy to help put the practices in place. Andy Holschbach, Ozaukee County Land and Water Management Director, has been visiting to farmers in the Ulao Creek watershed; soil testing on farm fields is set to begin soon. Of course, prioritizing locations for reducing runoff only gets us so far. Progress in the Ulao Creek watershed will depend on farmers implementing effective runoff-reducing practices. The on the ground work and the countless necessary conversations have begun. Over the next couple of years, we will continue to update you on the Ulao Creek project and other good work happening in the rural parts of our watersheds.

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Photo: Washington County Land and Water Conservation Division

A Pre-Winter Sweet Water Update

JeFF mARTInKA, SWeeT WATeR

s we reported this past summer, Sweet Water and Root-Pike WIN joined forces to develop a regional public storm water pollution outreach campaign for 2012. That partnership went so well that we are expanding it in 2013. In addition to the work of Root-Pike WIN and Sweet Water, the outreach effort required Jeff Martinka the critical support of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, which provided important public education grants, and additional funding from nearly 30 municipal partners, ranging from Germantown in the north to Kenosha down south. Our TV ad campaign, on FOX6, ran from June to late September and included about 700 RespectOurWaters commercials featuring Sparkles the Water Spaniel. We were featured in FOXFocus news stories and in-studio interviews. In addition, we secured a variety of stories on other TV and radio stations and in the print and on-line media. We also created a complementary community outreach effort with booths at 34 community events throughout the region from July through October. At the events, we distributed Sparkles pins, water quality tip cards, and free Milorganite Garden Care products. We offer appreciation to all our campaign supporters, to the volunteers on Sweet Waters Communications Committee who planned the campaign, and to the Metropolitan Milwaukee Sewerage District (MMSD) for its Milorganite donations and for the many MMSD rain barrels we raffled off at the events. More campaign info and our Sparkles ads are available at respectourwaters.org. This site will stay live as part of our ongoing campaign. While Sweet Water is a youthful organization, incorporated in late 2009, we are already fine-tuning our regional partnerships to make it most effective. Supported by a grant from the Nonprofit Management Fund, Sweet Water is working on a strategic planning effort. More than 60 key partners completed online surveys or participated in in-depth interviews with our

consultant. That work was followed by a half-day planning session with Sweet Waters Steering Council and our nonprofit partners in late September. This feedback will be used to create a new three-year plan, expected to be complete in December. Sweet Waters 2012 Water Quality Mini-Grants November 1st deadline is approaching. An increased grant amount up to $5,000 is offered this year. Our 2012 mini-grant supporters include the Fund for Lake Michigan, MMSD, the Joyce Foundation, and CH2M Hill.

The deadline for applications to the Water Quality Minigrant Program is November 1. The online application is available at swwtwater.org.
Our EPA-funded Menomonee River Watershed-Based Permit (WSBP) Pilot Project is nearing its planned November completion date. We are hopeful that this work will lead to 11 municipal partners linking together their stormwater reduction efforts; those municipalities comprise nearly 90% of the total watershed area. The work was made possible through the efforts of representatives of all the municipal governments, EPA, WI DNR, MMSD, SEWRPC, and Sweet Waters nonprofit partners. Finally, our 9th annual Clean Rivers, Clean Lake Conference is planned for Thursday, April 25, 2013 at the Harley-Davidson Museum on the Menomonee River. In addition to an exciting new location and a day of in-depth workshops and plenary sessions, plan on a major public event in the evening, as well. As always, please stay apprised of our work at swwtwater. org or visit our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ SE.WI.WatershedsTrust.org.

Watershed Based Permit continued from page 1 spirit that is part of Sweet Water was exhibited here as well such that the permit that was ultimately drafted was acceptable also to the USEPA, the WDNR and the non-governmental organizations (environmental groups). This collaboration was an example of something we can be proud of in southeastern Wisconsin. Not only was a watershed based permit process outlined and developed, but a draft permit was crafted that we expect to sail through the approval process since each party at the table was able to express their interests, concerns and ideas. Working collaboratively is hard work, but the end result is a better product and a development of trust among the participants. Special thanks to SEWRPC for leading the effort.

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Building a Groundswell of Community-based Projects

KATe moRGAn, SWeeT WATeR

n this issue of the Rivers Report, we are highlighting Sweet Waters Water Quality Mini-grant Program with three articles about projects funded by the program. The mini-grants support local, grassroots efforts to improve water quality, restore habitats, and advance public education concerning water issues in the Greater Milwaukee Watersheds. A special focus is the use of green infrastructure practices. The program is open to established non-profit organizations, community and civic groups and associations. The mini-grant program not only supports these local initiatives but also introduces residents to green infrastructure practices through community projects. These local projects help build greater support for larger green infrastructure initiatives in our watersheds. Project proposals are required to address one or more of Sweet Waters goals: make measurable progress in improving regional water resources, support land use practices that improve water

quality; forge relationships to find and leverage funding, and implement cost-effective projects resulting in measurable water quality improvements. Community-driven projects underscore the important role that local, grassroots organizations and associations play in the protection of the water resources in our communities. It is through the combined efforts of individuals, families, neighborhoods, communities and municipalities that we can effect greater improvements in the health of our rivers and Lake Michigan. The three projects showcased in this article include river bank restoration at Hart Park along the Menomonee River; rain gardens and pond restoration at Holler Park in the Kinnickinnic River watershed; and Cedarburg Bog protections in the upper reaches of the Milwaukee River watershed.

Protecting a Hidden Gem

CARL SChWARTz, FRIenDS oF The CeDARBuRG BoB
Photo: Friends of the Cedarburg Bog

The grant helped design, fabricate and erect 13 interpretive signs along a half-mile trail that leads to Watts Lake from a WDNR parking lot along Highway 33 between Saukville and Newburg. Other grants and donations totaling more than $12,000 enabled us to bring the trail into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The illustrated signs focus on the value of wetlands, the role of the bog and Cedar Creek in the Milwaukee River watershed, the glacial history, the physical makeup of the bog, Native American habitation, habitats, ecological relationships and individual plant and animal members of the bog community. In addition, since the boots of visitors can spread invasive plant species like garlic mustard, it was an ideal location to install a boot brush podium and a sign about the problem of invasives. The 1,656-acre Cedarburg Bog State Natural Area in Ozaukee County is a conifer swamp, the largest example of the least abundant type of wetland in the Milwaukee River Basin. It offers an ideal location for educating thousands of residents and visitors about the vital role wetlands play in preserving water quality and species diversity in the Milwaukee River watershed.

Members of the Friends of the Cedarburg Bog admiring the new signage

n 2009, the Friends of the Cedarburg Bog sought a mini-grant of $2,000 to launch the third phase of a two-year project to improve public accessibility and education for the bog. It was awarded $850 due to the number of proposals that were submitted. The Bog Friends Board of Directors felt the project deserved to be completed as proposed and dipped into its reserves to complete it.

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FALL 2012

Volunteers Put Some Heart into Hart Park

CheRYL nenn, mILWAuKee RIVeRKeePeR

art Park located in the floodplain of the Menomonee River in Wauwatosa, has a great group of residents looking after it with the Friends of Hart Park. During the 2011 spring clean up on April 16, a record 150 people turned out to help clean up Hart Park. Rosemary Wehnes, the head of the Friends, started brainstorming about other ways to engage volunteers in the beautification of the park, while improving the water quality of the Menomonee River.

Holler Park An Emerald Surrounded by Gray

DAVID CIePLuCh, FRIenDS oF hoLLeR PARK

Thoughts turned into plans, and plans turned into action as the Friends submitted a successful mini-grant application to Sweet Water in fall 2011. The grant provided funding for the removal of invasive shrubs in the park as well as to purchase native trees and shrubs to replace invasive species and improve forest health along the riparian corridor. The project addressed one of the priorities in the Menomonee River Watershed Restoration Implementation Planto restore riparian corridors in target areas of the Menomonee Watershed in areas with heavy sediment loading. During the 2012 Annual River Cleanup, over 200 volunteers from the Friends, Milwaukee Riverkeeper and Kohls Corporation planted over 320 native shrubs and trees in Hart Park. A large amount of invasive buckthorn, tree of heaven and bush honeysuckle was also removed.
Photo: Friends of hart Park

moved into the Holler Park neighborhood during 1995. I had known about Holler Park since my early teen years in the 1960s. Since Holler Park is in my backyard, I began to appreciate what a gem it is through observation and attendance at seminars and classes. It is a 15-acre park with about 10 acres in native woodland and prairie adding splendor during all seasons of the year. My appreciation has grown throughout the years. The Park People organization provided me early assistance, training, and the tools for the removal of invasive plants like buckthorn and garlic mustard. Over ten years of volunteer efforts have kept the woodland relatively free of these invasive plants but going maintenance is required to keep up with bird droppings and animals that carry in new seeds. In 2009, a grant from the EPA was awarded to the Friends of Holler Park in cooperation with the City of Milwaukee. With additional donated funds and the efforts of neighbors and 400 Milwaukee Public School children, 10,000 native flowers and grasses were added to the parkland surrounding the lodge. This grant and donated labor provided a jump start in establishing a large rain garden that would absorb and treat stormwater from the parking lot and lodge before it ran into the pond and Holmes Creek. This added not only natural beauty to the park but also the benefit of deep rooted plants which hold water. In 2011 and 2012, we secured two Sweetwater mini-grants for additional projects. During May 2011, fifteen high school students assisted in planting 1500 plants along part of the ponds shoreline. During 2012, three separate rain gardens surrounding storm drains were added to capture runoff. Over 20 residents added rain gardens to their yards. Continued on page 6

Hart Park River Clean-up/ Friends of Hart Park

Special thanks to Paul Mozina who was helpful in the days leading up to the event, and to several local naturalists and arborists who helped determine appropriate planting sites. Special thanks also to Dave Wehnes and others who helped water these plants during the driest June imaginable! If you live near Hart Park, please consider adopting some trees for special watering attention. The Friends plan to continue planting native grasses and shrubs through the fall. Information about other ways to get involved with the Friends is posted at their website: www.ihartpark.com.

FALL 2012

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Transforming Urban Gardens

SeAn FoLTz, AmeRICAn RIVeRS

Garden District Neighborhood Association members at BMP installation

merican Rivers and the Garden District Neighborhood Association recently received a grant through MMSDs Green Infrastructure Partnership Program. The funding is helping transform an area on Milwaukees Southside into a sustainable showcase for urban community gardens across the country. A first of its kind, the interlocking, precast pervious concrete system was installed where the farmers market is held on the corner of 6th and Howard. The market is held every Saturday throughout the growing season. The funds also helped construct a 5,000 gallon rainwater harvesting system that contains the stormwater runoff from the access drive. The stormwater is fed through a solar pump and ionization, and then flows into a small stream where it winds through the north edge of the market. The process now provides filtered water for the community garden plots.

The system was created because like many urban gardens there was no access to a permanent water source, and policy changes have shifted fire hydrant use away from urban gardeners. So, not only does this project highlight the growing need for water harvesting and reuse across the nation, but it also provides an estimated 25,000 gallons of water a year for the urban garden plots. This practice now reduces polluted stormwater runoff that would otherwise run into the Kinnickinnic River and Lake Michigan. The installation also provides a unique opportunity for other urban garden coalitions to make similar efforts to provide water to their tenants, and reduce demand on potable municipal water. Editors note: This project also received Sweet Water Mini-grant funding in 2012 toward permeable pavement efforts.

Holler Park continued from page 5 One major element has to be included with this entire journey toward restoration is the need for education of the public as well as participant volunteers. Not everyone appreciates native plants and their benefits. In fact, some people call them weeds. Patience, understanding and persistence are needed all along the way in educating everyone concerned. This includes one-on-one conversations with visitors, volunteers, and ongoing workshops. It will take time for many of us to learn to appreciate and value the more diverse, natural landscapes as opposed to the manicured, chemically-addicted, over-watered lawns. Observations confirm that these restorations are having a positive influence on the ecology. Thousands of bees, insects, butterflies and birds visit the gardens for feeding and habitat. This past summer, new fish have hatched and thrived in the pond along with tadpoles and turtles hatching along the shoreline. A Green Heron camped on a log for three weeks pulling out Bluegill after Bluegill, energizing for the migration to South America.
FALL 2012

Main rain garden at the Holler Park Lodge

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Photo: American Rivers

Celebrating the Clean Water Act at 40

KARen SChAPIRo, mILWAuKee RIVeRKeePeR

Setting AOC Priorities: Keeping It Going, Getting It Done!

John hACKeR AnD SheLDYn hImLe , mILWAuKee eSTuARY AoC VoLunTeeRS
Photo: Gail epping overholt

ctober 18, 2012 marked the 40th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act, and we have a lot to celebrate! Passed by the U.S. Congress with strong bipartisan majorities to override a veto by President Nixon, the Clean Water Act has done more to improve our waterwaysboth locally and nationwidethan any other piece of legislation. Before 1972, waterways around the country were devoid of fish and wildlife; toxic chemicals and raw sewage were all too common. To our east, Lake Erie was declared dead. In 1969, oil and debris In the Cuyahoga River caught on fire. The Milwaukee River and its tributaries were degraded cesspools of pollution too. Milwaukee had literally turned its back on her rivers, with the doors of industrial facilities facing away from the water. Forty years later, thanks largely to the Clean Water Act, Milwaukee waterways are being restored to their former treasured status. Water quality has improved greatly, with dramatic reductions in pollution from industrial sources and sewage. Our area rivers are now a great source of pride for the City, with increased opportunities for fishing, paddling and economic development. For all its progress, though, the Clean Water Act has still not achieved its goal of having all U.S. waters fishable and swimmable. Our area rivers are still impaired, especially from polluted run-off, from both stormwater and agricultural sources. The problem of run-off is a major priority for Sweet Water and its partners, and is being addressed through watershed restoration plans for the Menomonee and Kinnickinnic Rivers and the development of TMDLs, among other efforts. But the 40th birthday of the Clean Water Act in all events calls for celebrationit legacy goes well beyond to the revival of our riversit sparked an environmental enlightenment.

John Hacker, Sheldyn Himle networking with Sheboygan AOC education specialist Sheldyn:

he 2012 U.S. Areas of Concern Program Annual Meeting convened in Cleveland September 12 and 13. We attended as citizen members of the Milwaukee Estuary AOC Stakeholder Delegation. Gail Epping Overholt, UWEX Regional Natural Resources Program, asked us to share our impressions of the meeting.

Being a first time participant at an AOC/GLRI conference, I was giddy at being part of something bigger than me, something so meaningful. Of greatest interest to me: success stories of restoration and successful collaboration. As speakers highlighted progress on the various AOCs, they also recounted trials and tribulations along their journeys that ultimately enabled the work to get done. And the work continues. Beyond continuous fundingthe greatest hurdles spanning the years, continue to be time and commitment: the time it takes to complete restoration but also the time put into building and maintaining critical relationships with stakeholders necessary for successful outcomes. As award-winning author Jerry Denniss keynote speech exemplified, a good story can create bonds that engender and embed commitment. The stories that need to be told must reach people of all kinds, in many different ways. The task is large and progress is slow, but together we continue to accomplish what cannot be done alone.
JOhn:

The two highlights for me were in the expansion in vision that I heard from several of the presenters. A number of the presentations and breakout sessions covered aspects of the increasing emphasis on habitat restoration projects as sediment remediation projects continue and, in a number of cases, are completed. Great Lakes Legacy Act Program Manager Marc Tuchman described moving beyond R2remediation and restoration, to R3remediation, restoration, and revitalization. We also learned of the importance being placed on integrated data tracking, reporting, and analysis to set project priorities and as support for removal of impairments and delisting of AOCS. We want to thank Gail, the UWEX Regional Natural Resources Program, the EPA Great Lakes National Program Office, and the DNR Office of the Great Lakes for inviting us to be part of the conference.

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Upcoming Events
November 7 Lake Michigan Stakeholders Fall Meeting 9:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. UWM School of Freshwater Sciences 600 E. Greenfield Ave. | Milwaukee Contact Sherrill at 920-849-7053 or sherrill@lnrp.org to register November 7 9 NALMS 32nd International Symposium Lakes in the Landscape: Values > Visions > Actions Monona Drive Community & Convention Center 1 John Nolen Drive | Madison, WI For information, visit http://www.nalms.org/home/conferencesand-events/2012-nalms-symposium/nalms-symposium.cmsx November 8 9 Water Technology Course: Wisconsin Sedimentation & Erosion Control Inspector (WISECI) Best Management Practices UW Milwaukee - School of Continuing Education 161 W. Wisconsin Ave. | Milwaukee, WI For information, visit http://www4.uwm.edu/sce/course.cfm?id=19263 November 10 Milwaukee River Hike 10:00 a.m. Noon Meet at the Urban Ecology Center 1500 E. Park Pl. | Milwaukee, WI For information and registration, visit www.urbanecologycenter.org November 14 SE WI Invasive Species Consortium Symposium 1:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. Havenswood Environmental Awareness Center 6141 N. Hopkins St. | Milwaukee, WI For more information, visit http://sewisc.org/sewisc-events/273-2012-sewisc-symposium December 10 12 Water Technology Course: Sustainable Water-Centric Communities UW Milwaukee - School of Continuing Education 161 W. Wisconsin Ave. | Milwaukee, WI For information, visit http://www4.uwm.edu/sce/course.cfm?id=24046 December 13 Sweet Water Partner Holiday Party 5:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m. Location: TBD December 15 Kinnickinnic River Hike 10:00 a.m. Noon Meet at the Urban Ecology Center 1500 E. Park Pl. | Milwaukee, WI For information and registration, visit www.urbanecologycenter.org February 12 14, 2013 18th Annual Wisconsin Wetlands Association Conference Blue Harbor Resort 725 Blue Harbor Drive | Sheboygan, WI For information, contact programs@wisconsinwetlands.org or visit http://www.wisconsinwetlands.org/2013conference.htm April 25, 2013 2013 Annual Clean Rivers, Clean Lake Conference Save the Date! Harley Davidson Museum 400 W. Canal St. | Milwaukee, WI

For a full calendar of Sweet Waters events, visit our website at www.swwtwater.org.

RiversReport
Sweet Water 600 east Greenfield Avenue milwaukee, WI 53204
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PARTneRS
mAnAGInG eDIToR Kate morgan, Sweet Water

Learning for life

University of Wisconsin Extension 9501 W. Watertown Plank Road Wauwatosa, WI 53226
PHONE WEB EMAIL

ConTRIBuTInG eDIToRS Jeff martinka, Sweet Water Gail epping overholt, uW-extension This publication made possible in part through the generous support of

(414) 382-1766 swwtwater.org martinka@swwtwater.org morgan@swwtwater.org

(414) 256-4632 clean-water.uwex.edu gail.overholt@ ces.uwex.edu

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FALL 2012