Campaign to save Menomonee River takes root

Milwaukee Riverkeeper is a member of the Southeastern Wisconsin Watershed Trust (SWWT), a collaborative effort to achieve healthy and sustainable water resources throughout the Greater Milwaukee Watersheds.

Through SWWT, Milwaukee Riverkeeper has been working in a variety of ways to increase the health of the Menomonee River.  Wauwatosa Now recently ran a feature on the work we're undertaking and how YOU can get involved.

[excerpted from WauwatosaNow]

MANY HANDS NEEDED TO REVERSE POLLUTION, IMPROVE HABITAT

The idea of swimming, boating and fishing in the Menomonee River would make many people recoil in disgust, knowing that human excrement, bacteria and garbage are floating in the waterway.

But participants of Southeastern Wisconsin Watersheds Trust, otherwise known as Sweetwater, foresee a day - albeit likely years or decades in the future - when people can recreate in the water without worrying about getting sick.

They're hoping residents who have a similar desire will join a watershed action team, a collaboration of environmental groups, governmental bodies and community members aimed at achieving clean water in the river.

The Menomonee River team has started meeting and setting goals, but more residents are needed, said Cheryl Nenn, the member of Milwaukee Riverkeepers who is heading up the team.

MANY ISSUES TO ADDRESS

Work likely will focus on three areas: public health, habitat and nutrients.

While the process of cleaning up may seem daunting, Nenn said she "hopes we will be able to make some small wins early on" to build momentum.

Reducing the amount of road salt and chemicals used by nearby golf courses that find their way into the river are two possible goals. A new statewide ban on phosphorus in lawn fertilizer should cut down on algae blooms, which harm other aquatic species by removing oxygen from the water.

Habitat improvements could include restoring eroded stream banks, removing concrete lining from the channel and eliminating barriers that prevent fish from migrating, Nenn said.

In the spring, residents will have the opportunity to become water-quality testers, taking samples in the river after rainfalls. Three samples are needed at each drainage outfall to establish a baseline for future cleanup activities. Action team members also will become "trained observers," looking for unusual materials coming out of pipes draining into the river.

Action team members also could be charged with removing log jams, invasive plants and old sewer pipes blocking parts of the river. Eventually, topics more specific to aesthetics and recreation - what types of native plants to put in, where the ideal location for a canoe launch is, etc. - will serve as discussion points.

[to read the full article visit WauwatosaNOW]

If you're interested in lending your voice to the discussion of how the Menomonee River should be helped come to a Watershed Action Tearm Meeting (WAT).  The next Menomonee WAT is slated for Tuesday, November 17th.

More interested in our southside tributary?  Attend a Kinnickinnic WAT on Thursday, November 19th.