Land Trusts are established to protect land and water
resources for the public benefit. River Revitalization Foundation is serving
as the urban rivers land trust in Milwaukee, caring for the Milwaukee,
Menomonee and Kinnickinnic Rivers. We focus on conservation and protection
of riparian corridors. This is done through land acquisition, easements,
connecting green space, creating a parkway which provides public access
to the river valley, and landowner education.
We currently own land two parcels; nearly 5 acres in Riverwest just
south of Gordon Park, and a 2.34 acre parcel along Southbranch Creek,
a tributary to the Milwaukee River, in the Village of Brown Deer.
RRF is a partner organization with the Milwaukee River Work Group
(MRWG) working to protect the Milwaukee River (see home page Milwaukee
Central Park link). Our guiding document, The Riverway Plan (1991),
contains goals, priority recommendations and strategies to implement
the plan’s main objective: to create a continuous environmental
corridor, or greenway, along the Milwaukee River and address issues
affecting water quality. As a land trust, we can position ourselves
to accept donations of land, and can further these goals to permanently
protect additional lands along the Milwaukee, Kinnickinnic and Menomonee
Rivers. This direction, approved by the board of directors in December
2003, requires increased capacity and formulation of a land protection
plan, in conjunction with our land acquisition goals already defined:
1. Increase and improve public access to the river and to existing green
space (utilizing the Green Infrastructure for Tomorrow “GIFT”
plan among others),
2. Identify new public green spaces and trails connecting existing parks,
(utilizing existing plans such as SEWRPC’s Natural Areas Plan and
MMSD’s Conservation Plan among others),
3. Expand recreational opportunities (especially passive recreation),
4. Add to public enjoyment of scenic beauty, wildlife and plant species,
5. Preserve and protect wildlife habitat in these natural areas,
6. Promote sound land use and smart growth policies.
The Milwaukee River and its adjoining lands form an extensive and highly
valuable natural resource providing both a huge potential and challenge
for environmental and habitat protection, water quality improvement, and
human enjoyment and recreation. The River Revitalization Foundation along
with our partners will continue its focus on environmental protection
as a steward of the entire Milwaukee River Basin. Wisconsin’s largest
metropolitan area, Milwaukee County, with a population of over 950,000,
will benefit from the protection of this resource. Once it is lost, it
can never be recovered.
OUR RESOURCES INCLUDE:
Greenseams and The Conservation Plan of the
Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District: www.mmsd.com
Land Trust Alliance: www.lta.org
Gathering Waters Conservancy: www.gatheringwaters.org
The Conservation Fund: www.conservationfund.org
