 The Milwaukee Estuary was designated an Area of Concern (AOC) in 1987 by the International Joint Commission because of historical modifications and pollutant loads that contributed toxic contaminants to the AOC and Lake Michigan.
The new Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern (AOC) Remedial Action Plan Update is now available, incorporating the feedback we received from stakeholders on the draft we shared earlier this year. The document is available on the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website.
This document shares the progress made from January through December 2021 on specific actions or projects that are important for reaching our Area of Concern pollution cleanup and restoration goals, and sets milestones for continued work.
Eleven environmental problems, called beneficial use impairments, were identified for the Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern, along with management actions to address each of those problems. Delisting targets are specific goals and objectives established for each impairment, with measurable indicators to track results of pollution cleanup and habitat restoration efforts. Once all impairments are removed, the Milwaukee Estuary can be removed from the list of most polluted sites on the Great Lakes.
The Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern was designated as one of 43 sites on the Great Lakes with significant environmental damage by the United States and Canada in 1987. Federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding, first launched in 2010, helps communities clean up pollution and restore waterways.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency completed their review of the Oak Creek Watershed Restoration Plan and found the plan to be consistent with the USEPA’s nine key elements critical for achieving improvements in water quality. The next 5 to 10 years will be critical for watershed communities and stakeholders to maintain momentum and begin plan implementation.
The Oak Creek watershed restoration plan is a second-level plan developed in the context of the 2007 regional water quality management plan update for the Greater Milwaukee watersheds. The plan provides specific, targeted recommendations to address four major focus areas: water quality, recreational use and access, habitat conditions, and flooding. In addition, the Mill Pond and dam located on Milwaukee County parkland within the City of South Milwaukee was evaluated using the plan focus areas. The plan is designed to address the nine key elements for watershed plans identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
More information
Sector Team Updates
Were you unable to make this year’s conference? Or did you miss one of these presentations? The cover crop planning committee is happy to offer a selection of the sessions to those who were not able to attend in person. Please feel free to share to anyone who may be interested. The conference hosted speakers from around Wisconsin and the Midwest to learn about subjects related to maintaining and improving soil health with cover crops. Topics included in-season manure applications, managing equipment for planting green, incorporating cover crops into vegetable rotations, adaptive rye management and the economics of soil health practices. Check out our 2022 Wisconsin Cover Crop Conference Pocket Guide
UW is hosting a Cover Crop plot tour and UW Small Grain Field Day, the morning of July 06, 10AM-NOON at Arlington ARS. Following a light lunch, there will be the Crop Management in Conventional Corn-Soybean Production Systems Plot Tour from 1:00PM-3:30PM. During the afternoon event, visitors may visit our cover crop research plots, check equipment and exchange knowledge with University Specialists and fellow farmers adopting cover crops in their crop production systems.
Registration: For more information, view the registration flier.
We will have light sandwiches available for lunch at the Public Events Building for those attending both the morning (Small Grain Field Day) and afternoon (Cover Crop Plot Tour) events. If you plan to attend both events and would like to get lunch with us, please send me an email (rwerle@wisc.edu) so I can have enough food ordered (please let me know if you have any dietary restriction).
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AIS Snapshot Day
August 20th from 8:30am-12:30pm
This statewide, one-day event connects volunteers, water lovers, and local groups in a search for aquatic invasive species (AIS). You can help protect Wisconsin's rivers and lakes from these invasive plants and animals that negatively impact habitat, wildlife, recreation and health. Register here for the event at the location of your choosing.
July 6, 2022
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Location: Online
Bob Miltner, Ohio EPA, and Kevin Goodwin, Michigan Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, discuss recent research from Great Lakes states into the toxic impacts of road salts on native freshwater species. Their findings suggest that state-level understanding of salts may help better protect vulnerable species. Register
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July 21, 2022
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Location: Online
Are you curious about the department’s Surface Water Grant Program?
Would you like to learn more about funding opportunities, applying, and managing grant projects?
Please sign up for and attend this webinar. Attendees will meet program staff and learn about grants available for the protection and restoration of lakes, rivers and wetlands. We'll share a few tips on applying and managing projects and provide some time to answer your questions as you look toward preparing a pre-application in advance of the Sept 15 deadline.
As the city grew, a series of canals including the Burnham Canal was created to allow ships sailing the Great Lakes access to Milwaukee industry. Industries dumped their waste into many of these canals. Although this no longer occurs, they left behind soil and sediment contamination requiring clean-up. Now the southernmost of those canals, Burnham Canal, located south of the Marquette Interchange at the intersection of S 11th St. and W Bruce St., will be revitalized and restored to a 6.7 acres natural wetland. Watch an update on the project below and visit the Waterway Restoration Partnership website to learn more.
July 13, 2022
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Location: Online
Nature-based shoreline approaches are more prevalent in the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Gulf regions, but this is changing for many Great Lakes and New England communities. As these areas are starting to use these approaches more frequently, they can benefit from discussions about the techniques and performance in colder climate regions.
This webinar focuses on how cold climate regions are advancing the science and use of nature-based shoreline approaches. Learn about two projects that 1) identified Great Lakes nature-based shoreline techniques and considerations; and 2) conducted monitoring to provide a greater understanding of the effectiveness, impacts, benefits, and limitations of living shoreline approaches in New England. Both projects will share local examples and resources.
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The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently released a dashboard feature to the MS4 eReporting section of water permit applications.
The MS4 Dashboard helps permittees access their compliance schedule and documents previously submitted via eReporting. The Dashboard also provides a location to upload and share files related to compliance audits. The DNR is planning a webinar for July 14, 2022, at 1 p.m. via Zoom to give a walkthrough of the new Dashboard, which will be available here.
Register here in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
If a Dashboard feature does not work as expected, please contact Amy Minser at amy.minser@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0913 or the DNR contact listed at the top of the Dashboard.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has added “Grading-Only” as a possible project type on the Notice of Intent form. This type should be used for the following situations:
- Fill and borrow sites where no impervious surfaces will be created
- Wetland mitigation and wetland scrape projects
The grading-only project type should not be used for a common plan of development where surfaces not allowing fluid to pass through will be constructed. For these projects, please select infill, redevelopment or new development.
Learn more about Notices of Intent by visiting the DNR webpage here.
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Oct 4-7: Hyatt Regency/KI Convention Center Green Bay
Registration is now open for the 56th annual WI Wastewater Operators Association Annual Conference. To register for an exhibit booth or learn more about sponsorship opportunities, CLICK HERE.
CLICK HERE to view program.
CLICK HERE for Operator Competition and Registration Form.
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