The Kinnickinnic River gathers up a heavy load of
problems as it flows through the heart of Milwaukee. But none is
more pressing than the accumulation of toxic sediments that are
choking the river and flowing out into Lake Michigan. When one
factors in the pollution, sedimentation, low water levels, and
the negative impact on Lake Michigan, it’s no wonder the
Kinnickinnic River has been named one of the most endangered in
America.
“In a city that is home to the
Brewers, lawmakers at every level of government have allowed the
Kinnickinnic River to become a toxic brew of chemicals and pollution,”
says American Rivers’ president Rebecca Wodder. “It’s sad to see a river
that could be a jewel in the heart of a thriving American metropolis
being forced to die a slow, painful death.”
At just 33 square miles, the
watershed of the Kinnickinnic River is the smallest and most developed
in the Milwaukee River basin. As a result, more than 1.5 million people
have a front row seat to the problems and have a vested interest in
restoring the river.
“The Kinnickinnic was once part
of the economic engine that drove Milwaukee’s industrial past. Right
now, the river is in transition. Contamination and falling water levels
in the river could force marinas and other small businesses to close.”
says Cheryl Nenn of Friends of Milwaukee’s Rivers. “A cleaned-up
Kinnickinnic could be putting money into people’s pockets and make the
city a richer place to live in, instead of draining toxic pollution into
Lake Michigan.” The Kinnickinnic River was once home to a vibrant
fishing community, including a thriving crawfish industry, and shipyards
up and down the river. Now, as contaminated sediment continues to build
up, water levels are falling, making commercial or recreational boating
risky.
Once out on the river, those
holding the fishing poles or casting the nets have to be concerned about
what they pull up. High polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) levels have forced environmental officials
to place fish consumption warnings for the all fish species in the
Milwaukee Estuary. In the Kinnickinnic, fishing is turning into an
exercise in futility.
“Folks that try to fish on the
Kinnickinnic are forced to pack their patience along with their tackle
and bait,” says Wodder. “With toxic sediments in the river so high, the
odds are better than average that they won’t catch anything at all, and
what they do catch can endanger their health. Fish simply can’t survive
in the water.”
The problems are spreading. The
entire Milwaukee Estuary has been designated as a federal area of
concern. That includes almost 3 miles of the Kinnickinnic, from Chase
Avenue all the way to Lake Michigan.
“It’s been 320 years since Sir
Isaac Newton first figured out gravity. Today, it’s a mystery to no one.
Water flows downhill, and the problems facing the Kinnickinnic are
showing up in Lake Michigan. How many rivers and lakes have to be
destroyed before we take action?” said Wodder.
2007 is a pivotal year for the
Kinnickinnic. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is working
in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Army
Corps of Engineers, and the Port of Milwaukee to clean up this river.
The groups are examining the feasibility of removing more than 170,000
cubic yards of contaminated sediments from a roughly half mile stretch
of the river. The project will improve both environmental and
navigational conditions upstream, and its benefits will flow downstream.
“We’ve abused the Kinnickinnic
too long. Now is the time to reclaim this river and turn it from an
eyesore into a community asset,” says Nenn. “Community leaders and
average citizens agree this is the right thing to do. Now it’s time for
the lawmakers we elected to lean on these state and federal agencies to
provide funding to get this project going.”
About America’s Most Endangered
Rivers
Each year, American Rivers
solicits nominations from thousands of river groups, environmental
organizations, outdoor clubs, local governments, and taxpayer watchdogs
for the America’s Most Endangered Rivers report. The report highlights
the rivers facing the most uncertain futures rather than those suffering
from the worst chronic problems. The report presents alternatives to
proposals that would damage rivers, identifies those who make the
crucial decisions, and points out opportunities for the public to take
action on behalf of each listed river.
This year community leaders
from all across the country have joined with us, in the fight to help
both their rivers, and their communities thrive. America’s Most
Endangered Rivers of 2007 are: Santa Fe River (NM), San Mateo Creek
(CA), Iowa River (IA), Upper Delaware River (NY), White Salmon River
(WA), Neches River (TX), Neuse River (NC), Lee Creek (AR, OK), Chuitna
River (AK).
