MMSD Teams With
River Revitalization Foundation For First Easement Acquisition Under Greenseams
Program
Milwaukee River project part of effort to link recreational trails,
improve waterways and preserve natural settings
(Milwaukee, WI) -- Greenseams, an innovative effort to
reduce flooding risks, protect riverfront land from development and provide
increased public access, announced its first big project on Tuesday. Teaming
with the River Revitalization Foundation, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage
District’s (MMSD) Greenseams program has purchased a conservation
easement on nearly four and a half acres along the Milwaukee River. The
easement connects two Milwaukee County owned parcels along the western
shore of the river between Gordon Park and North Avenue.
“The project will protect this riverbank from development and promote
greater public use of this land, now and for future generations,”
MMSD commission chairman Dennis Grzezinski said. “By taking this
step, we are advancing a policy that provides additional flood protection,
reduces dirty runoff and keeps undeveloped riverfront land in its natural
state.”
This Greenseams partnership includes the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage
District, the River Revitalization Foundation and the Wisconsin Department
of Natural Resources. By combining resources, the Greenseams partners
can take on larger projects and make greater strides toward accomplishing
Greenseams goals than they would without this cooperation. Wisconsin Stewardship
Grant funds were used in this agreement. The purchase price for the conservation
easement was $150,000.
“This Greenseams effort is part of a larger plan to connect people
with the rivers that run through our community,” Ray Krueger, president
of the River Revitalization Foundation said. “We are continuing
to work to establish trails and access points so that our rivers are even
greater assets for people in our region.”
The new conservation easement is between the Milwaukee neighborhoods of
Riverwest and the East Side. It will provide a link between previously
disconnected parcels of county parkland with natural vegetation and a
corridor for wildlife.
The easement will preclude development of the land and allow MMSD access
for flood management projects and other improvements to the natural shoreline.
Future Greenseams efforts will increase recreational opportunities for
people throughout our region.
“The Milwaukee River is coming back and fast becoming a magnet for
recreational activities and urban living,” said Milwaukee Mayor
John O. Norquist. “Thanks to the removal of the North Avenue Dam,
hundreds of fisherman are taking advantage of what is now one of the country's
hottest spots for salmon and steelhead. The Milwaukee River is also attracting
a growing number of condos and restaurants along the downtown Riverwalk.
Protecting this natural resource is a smart thing to do because of its
far-reaching impact on Milwaukee's economy and quality of life.”
MMSD is committed to a number of projects, including Greenseams, which
will reduce the need for costly new construction projects. The philosophy
behind Greenseams and other contemporary flooding and pollution reduction
efforts is that our community needs to examine entire watersheds, not
just stormwater and wastewater sources, when planning waterway improvements.
The mission of the River Revitalization Foundation is to protect and improve
the environmental quality of the Milwaukee River basin, which includes
the Menomonee and Kinnickinnic Rivers, and facilitate the acquisition
of land bordering these waterways for public access, walkways, recreation
and education
Lake sturgeon
to return to the Milwaukee, Manitowoc rivers
Stocking ends a century-long absence
For the first time in more than a century, lake sturgeon are cruising
the Milwaukee River, capitalizing on improvements in water quality and
the removal of the North Avenue Dam that once blocked spawning runs of
this ancient, gigantic fish.
On Monday, May 12, fisheries crews from the Department of Natural Resources
and a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Great Lakes Water Institute scientist
transferred about 51,000 weeks-old sturgeon to the Milwaukee River at
Grafton. A similar stocking of up to 100,000 young sturgeon is planned
in the Manitowoc River.
The stockings are milestones in the resurrection of the two rivers, and
for Wisconsin's lake sturgeon management program, which is 100 years old
this year. Having protected and nurtured in Lake Winnebago what is now
the world's largest lake sturgeon population, the program is focusing
on restoring lake sturgeon in other parts of its original range in Wisconsin.
"This represents the first stocking in a Lake Michigan tributary
that we know of and is an important step in a multi-agency effort to help
restore lake sturgeon to Lake Michigan," says Brad Eggold, DNR Southern
Lake Michigan fisheries team supervisor.
"It also signifies to a great extent the work that's been done in
the Milwaukee River watershed to clean up pollution and to remove dams
that blocked the fish's passage, most importantly the removal of the North
Avenue Dam in 1997. That progress makes the return of sturgeon possible
after more than 100 years."
"It's the same story in the Manitowoc River -- improvements in water
quality and removal of dams," says Steve Hogler, the DNR fisheries
biologists leading the Manitowoc River effort.
Lake sturgeon can grow to 200 pounds and live 100 years. Female sturgeon
don't start spawning until they are 20 to 25 years old, and males start
at 10 years or so, so most of the current biologists working on the project
will be retired if and when the fish start their spawning runs.
Getting to adulthood will be a challenge. DNR surveys of the river reveal
good habitat for overwintering and spawning, but the lake sturgeon will
be only about three-quarters of an inch long at stocking, and must first
survive these initial months, and then subsequent years of eluding predators
and finding sufficient food. Even then, as the survivors begin their spawning
runs, they'll still encounter some obstacles, such as remaining dams on
the Milwaukee River.
Today, 30 species of fish have been documented in the Milwaukee River,
including the Greater redhorse, a state threatened species, and under
suitable flow conditions, trout and salmon have migrated about 30-miles
upstream to the Village of Grafton and Cedarburg on Cedar Creek.
"This is really a great day," said Ray Krueger, who chairs the
Milwaukee River Revitalization Council and was among several members of
that group watching the stocking. "This is important because it's
a benchmark for the river…It's a part of our past being reintroduced
to the river."
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Brad Eggold (414) 382-7921 or Fred Binkowski (414) 382-1723
MMSD partners
with Oak Creek to purchase flood
management land
The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) has purchased three
conservation easements from the City of Oak Creek to help reduce the risk
of future flooding. Combined, the properties total about 28 acres. Oak
Creek will own the land under the agreement. However, the easements, purchased
through MMSD’s Conservation Plan, will ensure that the land remains
open space and is not developed.
The Conservation Fund negotiated the easements on behalf of the MMSD,
which paid $21,000 for the three easements. The Wisconsin Coastal Management
Program made a grant of $21,000 to MMSD to help purchase the easements.
The properties are located at:
1. 10001 South Pennsylvania Avenue (10 acres)
2. 2026 East Ryan Road (4 acres)
3. 8909 South 13th Street (14 acres)
The Wisconsin Coastal Management Program (WCMP) is dedicated to preserving
and making accessible the natural and historic resources of Wisconsin’s
Great Lakes Coasts. The program works cooperatively with state, local
and tribal government agencies and non profits in managing the ecological,
economic and aesthetic assets of the Great Lakes and their coastal areas.
The Conservation Plan is a non structural program aimed at reducing future
flooding risks in the greater Milwaukee area by purchasing undeveloped
land with spongy soils. The land acquired through the conservation easement,
like all the properties acquired under the Conservation Plan, will continue
to naturally store rainwater in an area that is expected to have major
growth over the next 20 years. This purchase is the third Conservation
Plan acquisition within the City of Oak Creek. To date, MMSD has completed
six acquisitions throughout the region, totaling 210 acres, through the
Conservation Plan.
The Conservation Fund (TCF), which has been retained by MMSD to implement
the Conservation Plan, is a national non profit organization based in
Arlington, VA that forges partnerships to conserve America’s legacy
of land and water resources.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
Thanks to the volunteer efforts of GROTH DESIGN GROUP, the new office
space for the Milwaukee Environmental Consortium (MEC) is becoming a reality.
Groth has assisted MEC with space planning and interior decorating at
our new location, 1845 N. Farwell, suite 100. The River Revitalization
Foundation along with Friends of Milwaukee’s Rivers, The Park People,
Milwaukee Urban Gardens, Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, Citizens for
a Better Environment and Urban Open Space Foundation have joined forces
to create the Consortium and share office space and associated costs to
increase efficiency, share resources and increase visibility. Having all
these groups under one roof will mean greater impact in the community
as well. Look for your invitation to our OPEN HOUSE sometime after our
move in date of November 1, 2003!
(see related article for more information about MEC)
Groth Design Group, Inc., located in Cedarburg, WI, offers full-service
architectural design including master planning, concept development and
interior design to commercial, residential, corporate and religious clients.
Rising population, scarcity of resources, and pollution of the environment
have become significant concerns in our society. Sustainable design (also
known as green design) is emerging as a way to help us continue to prosper
in the future while maintaining a healthy planet. In support of this goal,
Groth Design Group is experienced in the following building strategies:
protecting ecosystems; developing livable communities and healthy indoor
environments; using resources efficiently, including energy, water, land
and materials; reducing waste and pollution; and reducing consumption
of fossil fuels. Sustainable design can lead to numerous benefits including
reduced energy, water, material, and operating costs; increased occupant
productivity and well-being; and reduced impact on the environment. We
work with each of our clients to decide which, if any, of these strategies
is appropriate to their specific project.
In addition to environmental awareness, as our society increases its awareness
of cultural diversity, so too are businesses and organizations celebrating
ethnic, language, ability, and cultural variety. This diversity can and
should find expression in the architectural environment and be considered
in the design and building process. Groth Design Group is committed to
helping our clients voice their concerns for fair representation of all
expressions of the human family. We have actively sought projects within
communities that require insight and discussions into issue beyond those
typically encountered.
Groth Design Group prides itself in working closely with clients; bringing
communities together and creating establishments that stand out as landmarks.
Many thanks to Groth for their invaluable assistance in helping this initiative
become a reality. For more information, visit their website at www.gdg-architects.com
Message from
the Executive Director
River Revitalization Foundation joins the *Milwaukee Environmental Consortium,
Inc.
Will move offices November 1, 2003
*Made possible through generous contributions by the Argosy Foundation,
Christopher S. Abele, Forest County Potawatomi Community Foundation, Greater
Milwaukee Foundation and the Nonprofit Management Fund
Concept:
The Strategic Alliance between Friends of Milwaukee’s Rivers and
the River Revitalization Foundation, Milwaukee’s two river protection
groups, will bring the two organizations together to leverage staff and
volunteer effort for the rivers of Milwaukee both through combined events
and shared office space. As an outgrowth of our two groups’ desire
to share office space, Milwaukee’s ‘Environmental Consortium’
has been created to include a larger group of environmental organizations
that are combining efforts to share space and professional amenities.
These organizations include:
River Revitalization Foundation
Friends of Milwaukee’s Rivers
The Park People
Milwaukee Urban Gardens
Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin
Urban Open Space Foundation
Citizens for a Better Environment
It is our collective vision that the Environmental Consortium will allow
for greater synergies and collaboration, as well as shared resources,
within Milwaukee’s environmental community. We believe this is one
of the most exciting initiatives in Milwaukee’s environmental community,
and that its success will prove to be an example to other collaborative
efforts among small to mid-size non-profit organizations.
The goals are:
• More effective collaboration and communication
• Strengthened visibility
• Centralized location
• ADA accessibility
• Spread cost of shared resources (i.e. conference room, volunteer
work area, copier, server and web site hosting, etc.)
• Incorporation of green design as possible
Structure:
Leasing space requires one main tenant, thus the creation of the umbrella
MEC. The Consortium will be the tenant and all participant dues, rents
and fees will be paid to the Consortium. The Consortium has incorporated,
and will file for 501 (c) 3 status. A board of directors will be created
and consist of a representative from each of the lead participant groups.
By-laws and a membership agreement have been drafted. Our legal consultant
is paid for through a grant from the Nonprofit Management Fund.
Details:
Space located at 1845 N. Farwell (just north of Brady St.).
Suite 100 occupies 4,000 square feet on the first floor. A conference
room will be shared with the adjacent tenant, Community Shares.
Participants sign a membership agreement when joining. Office and cubicle
vacancies still exist.
Anticipated move in date of November 1, 2003.
Costs:
The gross lease rate includes all utilities, maintenance, parking and
storage space for a term of 5 years. Joe Ullrich, building owner, is donating
the first month’s rent. A security deposit is required upon lease
signing which Friends of Milwaukee’s Rivers and RRF will divide
and pay from funds granted to the strategic alliance (Potawatomi and Argosy
Foundations).
A great deal of thanks is owed to our donors, without
whom this would not be possible:
Chris Abele, rent support
Argosy Foundation, strategic alliance grant
Forest County Potawatomi Community Foundation, strategic
alliance grant
Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Consortium
grant for start up costs
Nonprofit Management Fund, grant for legal
consultant
Joe Ullrich, building owner, first months
rent free
Groth Design Group, pro bono space planning
and interior design services
Thanks to our donors!
Bob Zigman
Chris Abele
David Gordon
David Uihlein
Drs. Heiden, Stifter & Gapson
Extendicare
Frank Thometz
George Mosher
Godfrey Fdn.
Inbusch Fdn.
John Stilp
Kevin Shafer
Kiwanis Club
Natural Resource Technology
NE Audubon Society
Ortgiesen Fdn.
Jim Pittelkow
Ray Krueger
Rick Cozatt
Rotary Club
Steve Mech
Victoria Wellens
We Energies