Purpose of the WRP

Develop an adaptive plan with stakeholders Identify cost effective water quality and habitat improvements Incorporate stakeholders desire for improvements Actions that can be implemented in the short term (3-5 years) and lay out a more general plan for the long term to achieve goals and objectives.

Key to Success: SWWT Involvement

Building partnerships at all levels of SWWT Adopted goals of SEWRPC's Regional Plan Desired a habitat/aesthetic component Identified focus areas Public health Habitat Nutrients

Watershed Restoration Plans

Outcome of the Watershed Restoration Plans

Load Reduction

Improved Water Quality Improved Habitat Watershed Restoration

WRP Focus Areas

Public Health includes bacteria and pathogens Habitat water quality and physical factors Nutrients Phosphorus

Cladophora near Bradford Beach

Source: MMSD

Watershed Background Data

Assessment Point Areas (Subwatersheds) 18 for the Menomonee and 10 for the KK All data by assessment point areas and assessment points Baseline: Water quality Pollutant loads by land use Habitat report card

What Does the Water Quality Data Show?

Loads are polluted stormwater sources Largest loads from commercial land use The bacteria load (fecal coliforms) are higher than expected in some areas of the Menomonee and all of the Kinnickinnic

Storm sewers oozing human fecal bacteria to beaches, rivers, study finds
Journal Sentinel 8/2/09

Menomonee Watershed Assessment Areas/Points

MN-1: North Branch Menomonee River MN-2: Upper Menomonee River MN-3: West Branch Menomonee River MN-4: Willow Creek MN-5: Upper Menomonee River MN-6: Nor-X-Way Channel MN-7: Lilly Creek MN-8: Butler Ditch MN-9: Menomonee River MN-10: Little Menomonee Creek MN-11: Little Menomonee River MN-12: Menomonee River MN-13: Underwood Creek MN-14: Underwood Creek MN-15: Menomonee River MN-16: Honey Creek MN-17: Menomonee River MN-18: Menomonee River

Menomonee River Watershed Assessment Points & Areas

MN-17 Menomonee River at 70th St.

Source: SEWRPC

Menomonee River Watershed Assessment Point & Area MN-17

Source: MMSD, Watershed Restoration Plan Fact Sheet for Assessment Point MN-17

Annual per Acre Nonpoint Source Pollution Loads of Total Fecal Coliform in the Menomonee River Watershed

MN-17 very high loads

Source: SEWRPC

Confirming Model Results

Where are the actual sources of high bacteria?

Source: Milwaukee Riverkeeper

Stormwater Outfall Sampling on the Menomonee River at 68th Street

Source: SEWRPC, Milwaukee Riverkeeper, GLWI

MN-17 high bacteria found

Linked SWWT Goals at Assessment Area Level

MN-17: Menomonee River at 70th Street Goals
Pollutant Fecal Coliform* Percent Load Reduction Total Suspended Solids** Phosphorus***

54%

27%

35%

* More water recreation opportunities ** Better habitat *** Reduced nutrient loads

Kinnickinnic Watershed Assessment Areas/Points:

KK-1 Lyons Park Creek KK-2 South 43rd Street Ditch KK-3 Kinnickinnic River KK-4 Wilson Park Creek KK-5 Holmes Avenue Creek KK-6 Villa Mann Creek KK-7 Cherokee Park Creek KK-8 Wilson Park Creek KK-9 Kinnickinnic River KK-10 Kinnickinnic River

Kinnickinnic Kinnickinnic River River Watershed Watershed Assessment Assessment Points & Points & Areas Reaches

KK-5 Holmes Avenue Creek

Source: SEWRPC

Kinnickinnic River Watershed Holmes Avenue Creek Assessment Point & Area

Source: MMSD, Watershed Restoration Plan Fact Sheet for Assessment Point KK-5

Annual per Acre Nonpoint Source Pollution Loads of Total Fecal Coliform in the Kinnickinnic River Watershed
KK-5 Holmes Avenue Creek high loads
Source: SEWRPC

Linked SWWT Goals at Assessment Area Level

KK-5: Holmes Avenue Creek Goals
Pollutant Fecal Coliform* Percent Load Reduction Total Suspended Solids** Phosphorus***

45%

23%

11%

* More water recreation opportunities ** Better habitat *** Reduced nutrient loads

Linked SWWT Goals at Assessment Area Level

Fly Fishermen

Habitat Focus
Added to WRPs after consultation with SWWT Assessment of available data Include as future actions are prioritized

Slender Madtom

Habitat Focus
Habitat Subcommittee was formed May 14, 2009 Objective-to address habitat related issues related to the preparation of watershed restoration plans (WRPs): Characterize existing instream and riparian physical and biological conditions Define habitat, including consideration of factors that influence habitat quality Identify data gaps Identify potential habitat restoration projects

Year 1876

Source: ACOE

Year 1876

Year 2000
93% Urban

Urban Development = Impervious Area

100 Percent Urban Land 80 60 40 20 0
1850 1870 1890 1910 1930 1950 1970 1990

Root River

Oak Creek

Menomonee River

Kinnickinnic River

Urbanization Increases Stormwater Discharges

Environmental Factors That:

influence biological health in aquatic ecosystems are affected by human disturbance (from Karr, 1991)

Source: SEWRPC

So What is Habitat?

What Does Habitat Data Show?

Fish Species Richness Among Watersheds: 2004

70 60 Number of Species 50 40 30 20 10 0 Milwaukee River Root River Oak Creek Watershed Menomonee River Kinnickinnic River

Management Strategies
Stream Health Indicator
Very good
Protection

Rehabilitation
Stewardship
Poor

Urban Development (total impervious area) (# stream crossings) (concrete) (eroding streambank)

Solutions and Management Strategies

Existing Regulatory Management Strategies Others in Various Stages of Implementation Recommended for Implementation in SEWRPC's Regional Plan but not yet implemented

Existing Regulatory Management Strategies

Bioretention Ponds along Canal Street

Existing Regulatory Management Strategies

Development West of Bioretention Pond along Canal Street

Source: Nancy M. Aten

Existing Regulatory Management Strategies

Development West of Bioretention Pond along Canal Street

Source: Nancy M. Aten

Existing Regulatory Management Strategies

Development West of Bioretention Pond along Canal Street

Source: Nancy M. Aten

Existing Regulatory Management Strategies

Street Sweeping

Source: Elgin Sweeper

Other Strategies in Various Stages of Implementation

Green Roof at the Milwaukee County Zoo

Other Strategies in Various Stages of Implementation

Downspout Disconnection

Source: MMSD

Other Strategies in Various Stages of Implementation

Rain Barrel

Rain Garden

Other Strategies in Various Stages of Implementation

Bioswale on Grange Avenue in Greendale

Source: MMSD

Other Strategies in Various Stages of Implementation

Other Strategies in Various Stages of Implementation

Former Ready-Mix Site Purchased Through Greenseams

Source: River Revitalization Foundations Menomonee River Mainstem Land Protection Plan, 2008-2009

Other Strategies in Various Stages of Implementation

Road Salt Reduction Program

Source: City of Brookfield

Recommended in SEWRPC's Regional Plan but not yet Implemented

Expand Monitoring

Source: MMSD

Potential Recommendations for MN-17 & KK-5

Main effort: Continue programs to detect and eliminate unknown discharges
Target areas already identified Identify new target areas
Source: Milwaukee Riverkeeper

Develop additional strategies to find sources

Potential Recommendations for MN-17 & KK-5

Other efforts:
Pet litter management Discourage high numbers of waterfowl

Potential Recommendations for MN-17 & KK-5

To Address Habitat: Implement chloride reduction programs Restore, enhance, and rehabilitate stream channels Improve/establish riparian buffers Implement stormwater runoff reduction strategies

Source: SEWRPC

Potential Recommendations for MN-17 & KK-5

To Address Phosphorus: Phosphorus fertilizer ban New water quality standard

Source: MMSD

What Are The Next Steps?

Input needed from the Watershed Action Teams/SWWT: Priorities Habitat Data gaps WRP chapters

How You Can Help

in the Development of the Watershed Restoration Plans

Join the SWWT Get involved on one of the SWWT Watershed Action Teams (WATs) Help to prioritize future actions Get involved in implementation in your watershed/neighborhood

Watershed Restoration Plans

Chapter Production Schedule

As of August 31, 2009:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Executive Summary (drafting in progress) Background How did we get here? Building Partnerships with the SWWT Characterize the Watershed Goals and Solutions Load Reductions from Management Measures

Draft Chapters 2-6 posted on SWWT Website: www.swwtwater.org/home/documents

Watershed Restoration Plans

Chapter Production Schedule

After August 31, 2009:

Consider comments on Chapters 2-6 Complete draft of remaining chapters (plan to post on Web in October 2009)
7. 8. 9. 10. Implementation schedule Implement Measure Adjust References Appendix

Accepting comments until November 2, 2009 Post final chapters on Web by November 20, 2009