River Skimmer Demonstrates the Need for Cleanups

Milwaukee's River Skimmer plans to increase its hours to remove even more debris from the Milwaukee River.  Due to the excess of litter, it hopes to expand its route to include the Menomonee & Kinnickinnic rivers as well.  The recent article by the Journal Sentinel demonstrates the need for river cleanups that Milwaukee Riverkeeper regularly engages in.

[excerpted from the Journal Sentinel]

The day after a storm blows through the city, the Milwaukee River looks more like the parking lot after a game at Miller Park than a scenic stream.

Food containers, beverage cups, plastic bottles and bags, straws, a large blue plastic barrel and assorted trash mingle in the current flowing past downtown bridges and boat docks.

There are tree branches, trunks and stumps bobbing at the surface of the coffee-colored water, surrounded by urban flotsam and jetsam as small as a golf ball and as large as a lawn chair.

Sweeping it all up is the work of the River Skimmer, a city-operated vessel that's done the task a few days a week with little fanfare since 1998, collecting 60 cubic yards of trash in an average week - three Dumpsters worth - just from a stretch of the river downtown.

The River Skimmer might get more of a workout in the future, expanding to five days a week next year and adding cleanup of downtown stretches of the Menomonee and Kinnickinnic rivers, thanks to a proposed boost in funding from the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District.

The district's dollars also would enable the boat to extend its season, starting in April rather than May, and ending in November rather than October, said Peter Topczewski, MMSD water quality protection manager.

The district contributed $25,000 to Skimmer operating costs in 2008 and 2009. The commitment could grow to more than $99,000 next year, under a preliminary district operating budget.

Extra sweeping is needed to remove more debris and improve water quality, Topczewski said.

The city Department of Public Works owns and operates the boat with an annual budget of $45,000, said Ghassan Korban, DPW coordination manager. Other partners include the Milwaukee Water Works, with an annual contribution of $2,000, and the Milwaukee Community Service Corps, which provides the crew of workers who accompany boat captain Scott Cassavant on his sweeps.

[to read the full article visit JSonline.com]

Hart Park in Wauwatosa will be having a river cleanup on November 7th.  To find out more click here.