Watershed Resources
Sweet Water has been involved in the development of a number of plans, reports, tools, and other resources that can and should be used to help restore the health of our shared water resources. More about the development of many of these documents can be found on the pages linked below.
Tools
White Papers
Sweet Water’s Science and Policy Advisory Committees have developed two white papers as a result of forming working groups on the subjects of fecal bacteria and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
Bacteria White Paper
The Greater Milwaukee Watersheds have streams that are impaired due to fecal bacteria pollution. TMDLs for fecal bacteria have also been developed for the Milwaukee River Basin. This white paper serves as a starting point when beginning to identify fecal bacteria sources and/or evaluate measures to control waterborne fecal bacteria contamination.
PAH White Paper
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are carcinogenic chemicals found in many tar-based pavement sealants. These pavement sealants are a primary source of toxic PAH pollution in urban areas due to their tendency to weather over time. This white paper summarizes SWWT’s research on PAHs.
Other tools
Lake Michigan Stakeholders’ Educational Resource Hub
The Lake Michigan Stakeholders’ Educational Resource Hub connects various stormwater/non-point source pollution education campaigns along the entire coast of Lake Michigan and Wisconsin. The goal is to unite education providers by providing a shared language and understanding of best practices on how to inform the general public. Sweet Water helped to develop this tool, linked below.
Plans
Nine Key Element Plans
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 and assisted the development of a number of these plans. Please find a list and linked plans below.
Root River Watershed Restoration Plan
HUC 10s #0404000202 & #0404000203
Approved by US EPA in 2014, this plan is currently housed on Root Pike Watershed Initiative Network’s website. Follow the link below to access the plan at their site.
Menomonee River Watershed Updated Implementation Plan
HUC 10 #0404000304
Approved by US EPA in 2021, the Menomonee River Watershed Updated Implementation Plan is now available. Click the button below to find more information about the plan and access a copy of the plan.
Kinnickinnic River Watershed Updated Implementation Plan
HUC 10 #0404000305
Approved by US EPA in 2020, the KK River Watershed Updated Implementation Plan is now available. Click the button below to find more information about the plan and access a copy of the plan.
Cedar Creek, Pigeon, Ulao, and Mole Creek- Milwaukee River Watershed Restoration Plan
HUC 10 #040400030301 + HUC 12s #040400030603 & #040400030604
This plan is currently being reviewed by USEPA. Contact Kristin for an update about the status of this plan.
*Maps of the KK, MN, and Root River Basins from WDNR.
Water Quality Improvement Plan
Southeastern Wisconsin Watersheds Trust, Inc. has been commissioned by Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District to create a Water Quality Improvement Plan (WQIP) for the Greater Milwaukee Watersheds. This plan will build on the technical strength of the TMDL Report, nine key element plans, MMSD’s Regional Green Infrastructure and 2050 Facilities Plans, and a number of Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission’s plans.
Water Quality Improvement Plan
The WQIP aims to facilitate rapid improvement of water quality in the Greater Milwaukee Watersheds. It does this by presenting a framework that can focus actions in targeted areas by leveraging large capital investments.
Currently this plan is being prepared to be submitted to WDNR for review. Contact Kristin for an update about the status of the WQIP.
WQIP Options Paper
The WQIP Options Paper describes eight strategies for IWM that might lead to more effective water quality improvements and more rapid delisting of stream segments in the GMW. This paper is to be used as a resource when using the WQIP Framework described in the final recommendations, as the strategies can be used to implement projects that support and expand large capital investments.