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Collaborating to secure healthy and sustainable water resources in the Greater Milwaukee Watersheds
 

 Watershed Planning

Sweet Water has led and been involved with a number of watershed planning efforts throughout the years. We’re excited that many of these planning efforts have been concluded, much to the thanks of our many regional partners. Now it’s time to start taking these plans and implementing them!

Plans and other resources that Sweet Water has helped to develop for the Greater Milwaukee Watersheds are available at the link below! To learn more about what is available, continue to scroll!

 

Nine key element (9KE) plans are watershed plans that follow requirements set by US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval of a watershed restoration plan. The nine key elements lay out a rational model for undertaking watershed restoration. Elements such as public outreach, monitoring, identification of funding sources, and implementation timelines are all important components. An approved 9KE plan is often required for the receipt of EPA and other federal grant programs.

Sweet Water has led the development of a number of these plans, including for the:

  • Kinnickinnic River Watershed

  • Menomonee River Watershed

  • Cedar, Pigeon, Ulao, and Mole Creek Watersheds (part of the Milwaukee River Watershed)

Sweet Water has also participated in the development of 9KE plans for the:

  • Fredonia Newburg Area

  • Root River Watershed

  • Oak Creek Watershed

Please access these plans and others at the link below!

Sweet Water was commissioned by Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District to create a Water Quality Improvement Plan (WQIP) for the Greater Milwaukee Watersheds.

The WQIP is a framework for coordinating the efforts of many stakeholders in targeted sub-watersheds to more efficiently and cost-effectively achieve improved water quality. The WQIP recommends that sub-watersheds are prioritized based on the existence of planned or implemented large capital investments that can leverage support for new efforts.

The plan identifies that additional organizational structure is needed to coordinate efforts. Also key is the integration of community, economic, and environmental goals into water quality improvement projects. Opportunities could include increased:

  • public programming and recreational opportunities,

  • habitat benefits,

  • workforce development,

  • and more

The WQIP also identifies a number of strategies for implementing collaborative efforts. While the WQIP is currently under review by WDNR, you can learn more about these strategies in the WQIP Options Paper.

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