Sweet Water

Collaborating to secure healthy and sustainable

water resources throughout the watersheds of
Southeastern Wisconsin

1
Southeastern Wisconsin
Watersheds
Area:
Watershed: (in sq. miles)
Kinnickinnic River 24.7
Menomonee River 135.8
Milwaukee River 700.0
Oak Creek 28.2
Root River 197.6

Lake Michigan Direct

Drainage Area 40.7

Total Square Miles: 1,127.0

Total Perennial River Miles: 600+

Number of Counties: 9
Number of Local Municipalities: 83
Overflows to Lake Michigan have dramatically
declined after deep tunnel construction…
…but the percentage of pollution from nonpoint
sources has doubled
Industrial
Discharge
0% WWTP
5%
SSO's
2% WWTP SSO's
Urban-Non-
2% 2%
Agricultural
Runoff CSO's
23% Industrial 7%
Discharge
0% Rural-
Agricultural
Runoff
Urban-Non- 21%
CSO's Agricultural
49% Runoff
68%
Rural-
Agricultural
Runoff
21% 2000
1975

Southeastern Wisconsin Watersheds Fecal Coliform Bacteria Loadings

Source – Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission

 The formation of Sweet Water –
the result of two major water initiatives
SEWRPC 2009 Regional Milwaukee Metropolitan
Sewerage District’s Public Policy Forum’s
Water Quality Plan
2006 Water Panel
Update 2020 Facilities Plan

Joint water quality initiative

formalized with
Wisconsin DNR

Nonpoint pollution identified A representative group of

as key, both in stakeholders identified shared
urban stormwater and objectives for the watersheds of
agricultural runoff Greater Milwaukee

Plan’s conclusion: Panel’s conclusion:

A watershed approach is needed Regional collaboration is essential

Chosen solution: Sweet Water

the Southeastern Wisconsin Watersheds Trust, Inc. 5
Sweet Water’s Steering Council
Officers:
 Nancy Frank, UW-Milwaukee Urban Planning Department
 Tom Grisa, City of Brookfield Department of Public Works
 David Lee, We Energies
Members:
 Preston Cole, City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works
 Sharon Gayan, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources
 Susan Greenfield, Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network
 Michael Hahn, SE Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
 Andy Holschbach, Ozaukee County Land Management
Dept.
 Scott Mathie, Metropolitan Builders Association
 Peter McAvoy, Sixteenth Street Community Health Center
 Neil Palmer, Village of Elm Grove
 Kevin Shafer, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District
6
 Dan Stoffel, Washington County Board
Sweet Water’s Goals
• Make measurable progress
toward improving regional water
resources
• Support land use practices that
improve water quality
•Forge & strengthen relationships
to find & leverage funding
• Recommend policies to assist in
projects producing lasting water
resource benefits
• Implement cost-effective projects
that result in measurable
improvements

7
 Sweet Water’s goals for water quality
improvement are aggressive and measurable
• Convert 48 square miles of marginal cropland to prairie or wetland
• Establish or expand riparian buffers along 325 miles of stream bank
• Reduce the existing pollutant loads to streams and lakes as follows:

• Total Phosphorus ↓ 15%

• Total Suspended Solids ↓ 40%
• Fecal Coliform Bacteria ↓ 50%
• Total Nitrogen ↓ 30%
• Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand ↓ 15%
• Copper ↓ 15%

Note: Goals based on measures outlined in SEWRPC’s Regional Water Quality

Management Plan Update
 Joyce
Grant
Partners
GLRI, FLM
and WCMP
Project
How we work
Partners

Project
Menomone
Teams e River
Habitat
Indicators

Kinnickinni
c
River

Watershed Science Watershed

Report
Committee
Sweet Action
Cards
Water Teams

Root River

New &
Emerging
Issues
Policy Watershed Action
Committee Teams to follow:

Watershed-
Water
Based
Quality
Storm Milwaukee
Trading
Water River
Policy
Permitting

Oak Creek
Total
New Maximum
Phosphoru Daily
s Rules Load
(TMDL)
Projects 9
 Public Policy Forum Water Quality Survey
(388 respondents)
Survey
Respondent % Actual % in Watersheds
Milwaukee Co. 71% 71%
Waukesha Co. 13% 13%
Washington Co. 8% 7%
Sheboygan Co. 4% 4%
Ozaukee Co. 2% 2%
Fond du Lac Co. 2% 2%
Spanish speakers 1% 8%
Aged 60 or over 43% 16%
White 72% 72%
Female 59% 51%
Household income
$50,000 or greater 32% 49%
Knowledge of our watersheds
What is the closest body of water to your home?
Don't know
1%

A stream or
Lake Michigan river
44% 42%

An inland lake
13%
Water quality ratings (5 is highest)
 Same water quality ratings
viewed another way
inland lakes, rivers, streams Lake Michigan
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Excellent Good Okay Poor Extremely Don't know
poor
Where does my stormwater
runoff go?
An
adjacent
Stays on body of Don't
the water know
property 3% 3%
A roadside 6%
ditch,
culvert, or A storm
swale sewer
14% drain in
the street
74%
Where does my stormwater
runoff go next?

Reten-
tion
pond
10% Don't
know
21% Sewage
treat-
River or ment
lake plant
without 39%
being
treated
30%
 What’s the source of problems with
our rivers and Lake Michigan?
Contributors to water quality problems
Discharge or overflow from sewage treatment plants or deep tunnels
Improper disposal of used motor oil, antifreeze, or other hazardous
household wastes
Fertilizers and pesticides from lawns
Industrial waste discharged into waterways
Runoff after rain or snow melt from streets, rooftops, driveways, and
parking lots
Flushing unwanted or expired prescription drugs down the toilet or drain
Fertilizers, such as manure, and pesticides from farms
Pet waste, geese droppings, or other animal waste
Air pollution from industries and power plants
Soil erosion from construction sites
Soil erosion from farmland
 Perceptions: individual actions
concerning water quality
Effectiveness of individual actions
Participating in river or beach clean-up days
Reducing the amount of pesticides, fertilizer and weed killer used on
the garden or lawn
Conserving water at home by using efficient appliances and fixtures
Cleaning up pet waste
Reducing the amount of salt used in the winter
Participating in river and wetland restoration projects
Conserving water at home by using less for household tasks
Composting leaves and yard waste and leaving grass clippings on the
lawn
Installing a rain barrel or rain garden to collect rain from the
downspout
Repairing or replacing privately-owned lateral lines running from the
house to the street sewer
Using less water at home during major storms
Willingness to take
individual actions
 Values: individual responsibility
towards water quality

I have a responsibility to future generations

to protect the region’s water resources.
Being a good steward of the environment is
an important part of my faith.
The actions of individuals do not have an
impact on water quality and quantity …
I do not see a role for myself in protecting the
region’s water resources.

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

% agreeing
 Perceptions: a low valuation of
water and its impact in our area
50

40
% agreeing

30

20

10

The quality of water Water is a key part of the Rivers and lakes are an
affects property values in region’s economic vitality. important part of my
my community. family’s recreational
activities.
 Local impressions vs.
national reputation
Southeast Wisconsin is a leader in water
resource protection

don't
know
disagree 29%
50%
agree
21%
 Perceptions: emerging water-
related issues

Will these be water problems during the next decade?

Water availability for new developments
Water shortages or low water levels
Climate change
Water quality in underground water sources
Water quality in lakes and rivers
Flooding
Sewer overflows into Lake Michigan

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
% responding "yes"
 Sources of information: who is
trusted on water-related issues?

environmental
organizations
state or local officials

news media

neighbors

0 10 20 30 40 50 60
So, what did we learn and what can
Sweet Water do with it?
 Most residents think our rivers and Lake are OK
or better
 They believe that sewerage overflows and
industrial waste are key to area water problems
 Their valuation of water and its impact on our
economy is very low
 BUT, they are willing to help, and to learn more
 And Sweet Water and its partners will focus on
that major opportunity in the coming years
Community Action Teams Working
in Targeted Watersheds
Sweet Water’s Green Infrastructure
Mini-grants and Other Funding
Partnerships
Community Outreach and Policy
Education Efforts Underway
 Thank you,
Milwaukee Rotary Club!

For more info, visit:

swwtwater.org

Or contact:
Jeff Martinka, Executive Director
Sweet Water: the Southeastern Wisconsin Watersheds Trust, Inc.
600 E. Greenfield Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53204-2944
t 414-382-1766 c 414-477-1156
martinka@swwtwater.org