River Revitalization River Revitalization FoundationFoundation

Kaitlin SchlickKaitlin SchlickUW-MilwaukeeUW-Milwaukee

Geography 125Geography 125Ryan HollifieldRyan HollifieldKatie WilliamsKatie Williams

2009: Spring Semester2009: Spring Semester

History… History… Established in 1994 by the Milwaukee Kiwanis club and The Established in 1994 by the Milwaukee Kiwanis club and The

Milwaukee Rotary club in response to recommendations Milwaukee Rotary club in response to recommendations brought to attention by the Milwaukee River Revitalization brought to attention by the Milwaukee River Revitalization Council. They wanted to improve the environment quality of Council. They wanted to improve the environment quality of the Milwaukee river basin.the Milwaukee river basin.

““The mission of the River Revitalization Foundation is to The mission of the River Revitalization Foundation is to establish a parkway for public access, walkways, recreation establish a parkway for public access, walkways, recreation and education, bordering the Milwaukee, Menomonee and and education, bordering the Milwaukee, Menomonee and Kinnickinnic Rivers; to use the rivers to revitalize Kinnickinnic Rivers; to use the rivers to revitalize surrounding neighborhoods; and to improve water quality.” surrounding neighborhoods; and to improve water quality.”

Future goals: Recreate the urban landscape using the river as Future goals: Recreate the urban landscape using the river as a focal point through neighborhood restoration, economic a focal point through neighborhood restoration, economic vitality, conservation of natural areas, and creation of public vitality, conservation of natural areas, and creation of public access to these natural areas and open spaces.. access to these natural areas and open spaces..

AccomplishmentsAccomplishments RRF purchased a 2.24 acre area in Brown Deer with RRF purchased a 2.24 acre area in Brown Deer with

funds from the WDNR Knowles-Nelson Stewardship funds from the WDNR Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund Fund

Partners with the Earn & Learn program, Washington Partners with the Earn & Learn program, Washington High School. They get interns to teach about High School. They get interns to teach about ecological restoration. ecological restoration.

New, easy accessible trails along both sides of the New, easy accessible trails along both sides of the river stretching from North Avenue to Locustriver stretching from North Avenue to Locust

Many grants to fund purchasing of native plants to Many grants to fund purchasing of native plants to put in along the river.put in along the river.

Environmental Issue and SLEnvironmental Issue and SL To rejuvenate the area around the Milwaukee River. Focusing on invasive species, To rejuvenate the area around the Milwaukee River. Focusing on invasive species,

and how to get rid of them, while keeping the balance of the natural forest there. and how to get rid of them, while keeping the balance of the natural forest there. Milwaukee River basin contains 14 cities, 32 towns, 24 villages. The basin is Milwaukee River basin contains 14 cities, 32 towns, 24 villages. The basin is

separated into six watersheds. Three of the watersheds from beginning to end separated into six watersheds. Three of the watersheds from beginning to end occupy two-thirds of the basin area. occupy two-thirds of the basin area.

Collectively the watersheds contain aboutCollectively the watersheds contain about 500 of perennial streams500 of perennial streams 400 miles of intermittent streams400 miles of intermittent streams 35 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline35 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline 57 named lakes and ponds57 named lakes and ponds

How I spent my time….How I spent my time…. HikeHike BuckthornBuckthorn Cleaning up garbageCleaning up garbage

Environmental Issue in DetailEnvironmental Issue in Detail Buckthorn is a small tree or Buckthorn is a small tree or

shrub native to Europe and shrub native to Europe and Asia that was introduced to the Asia that was introduced to the US in the mid 1800’s. It was US in the mid 1800’s. It was used in old fields, roadsides, used in old fields, roadsides, power line corridors, and fence power line corridors, and fence lines. It was introduced to the lines. It was introduced to the Milwaukee River valley when Milwaukee River valley when it was planted on both sides of it was planted on both sides of the railroad tracks.the railroad tracks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSeD-oiEvOM&feature=related

This is what I learned…

Ways of RemovalWays of Removal

FireFire

HerbicidesHerbicides

CuttingCutting

**Pulling up smaller trees and sprouts**Pulling up smaller trees and sprouts

Other uses…Other uses… PathsPaths

Use of the paths are increasing and to prevent destruction, unnecessary pollution Use of the paths are increasing and to prevent destruction, unnecessary pollution or wear and tear of the land we used larger buckthorn tress and branches to or wear and tear of the land we used larger buckthorn tress and branches to block these areas off and re-direct visitors to the already paved paths. block these areas off and re-direct visitors to the already paved paths.

BarricadesBarricades Wash out last springWash out last spring

Run-offRun-off 89% (of the source of bacteria in MMSD) is from polluted storm run-off.89% (of the source of bacteria in MMSD) is from polluted storm run-off.

THE DEEP TUNNELTHE DEEP TUNNEL,,

Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewage DistrictMilwaukee Metropolitan Sewage District

and the Milwaukee Riverand the Milwaukee RiverMMSDMMSD

300 miles of MMSD300 miles of MMSD 3,000 Community Servers3,000 Community Servers Another 3,000 private lateralsAnother 3,000 private laterals

http://v3.mmsd.com/Video.aspx

The Deep Tunnel itself:

140 to 300 feet below the ground, created from bedrock.

17 to 32 feet in diameter

Holds nearly 500 million gallons of water

Stretches 26.5 miles long.

Latest addition of seven miles was completed and initiated in 2006.

THE DEEP TUNNELTHE DEEP TUNNEL,,

Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewage DistrictMilwaukee Metropolitan Sewage District

and the Milwaukee Riverand the Milwaukee River Improvements and AccomplishmentsImprovements and Accomplishments

Before installing the Deep Tunnel MMSD experienced Before installing the Deep Tunnel MMSD experienced 50-60 overflows per year. With an estimated eight to 50-60 overflows per year. With an estimated eight to nine billion gallons being released into Lake Michigan. nine billion gallons being released into Lake Michigan.

Now, MMDS has reduced overflows to 1 or 2. This Now, MMDS has reduced overflows to 1 or 2. This extreme improvement has saved almost 73 billion extreme improvement has saved almost 73 billion gallons from polluting Lake Michigan since the Deep gallons from polluting Lake Michigan since the Deep Tunnel’s debut in 1994.Tunnel’s debut in 1994.

Joans IslandJoans Island Four StagesFour Stages

This is What I didThis is What I did March 6, 2009March 6, 2009

Took an introductory hike around the river. Starting at the Riverview dorms, we walked to Locust Took an introductory hike around the river. Starting at the Riverview dorms, we walked to Locust and back around to North Ave. While on the hike I learned where one of the ports for the deep tunnel and back around to North Ave. While on the hike I learned where one of the ports for the deep tunnel was. Most importantly I was shown invasive specices, getting to touch them and pull some out. Also, was. Most importantly I was shown invasive specices, getting to touch them and pull some out. Also, the native trees and plants that were local, and native to the mid-west.the native trees and plants that were local, and native to the mid-west.

April 3, 2009

I took a walk with Vince and he showed me where some trees were and what kind they planted and why. He went into a big detail about identifying Buckthorn and gave me a minor test on identifying it. After that we dug up several very large bushes or trees of buckthorn on a hill side.

April 25, 2009

Today was a tree planting, garbage removal, and buckthorn removal event. It was sponsored inpart because of Earth Day. Unfortunately, I did not get many hours in or much work because shortly after it began it started to downpour.

April 29, 2009

Today I Met Vince at the Riverview dorms. We walked around to see where good places would be to plant new trees the following weekend. Also, I took pictures for my project and talked with him about his knowledge of the deep tunnel, water issues of the Milwaukee River/ RiverWest, and also the strengths and weaknesses of the area.

Ways Ways YOUYOU can help! can help!

Do the laundry tomorrow if there is heavy rain todayDo the laundry tomorrow if there is heavy rain today Take a shorter showerTake a shorter shower Turn water off while brushing your teeth or shavingTurn water off while brushing your teeth or shaving

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?vwww.youtube.com/watch?v=LMVf2jOeyC8=LMVf2jOeyC8 Install high efficiency plumbingInstall high efficiency plumbing Fix leady plumbing Fix leady plumbing

Leaky toilet can waste up to go 200 gallons of water a day!Leaky toilet can waste up to go 200 gallons of water a day!

Researching and RelatingResearching and Relatingthe Issuethe Issue

ChaptersChapters

6.4 Frontier Environments and the Modern Threat6.4 Frontier Environments and the Modern Threat 8.5 Systems of Agricultural Production8.5 Systems of Agricultural Production 8.8 Agriculture and the Environment8.8 Agriculture and the Environment 8.9 Moving Toward Sustainable Agriculture8.9 Moving Toward Sustainable Agriculture 11.5 Patterns of Population in the Urban Region11.5 Patterns of Population in the Urban Region 11.6Air Pollution Impacts on People and Environment11.6Air Pollution Impacts on People and Environment 12.3 Precipitation, Storms, and their Impact on Environment12.3 Precipitation, Storms, and their Impact on Environment

12.5, 12.7, 12.8, 12.9, 12.1012.5, 12.7, 12.8, 12.9, 12.10 Chapter 13, allChapter 13, all

Work CitedWork Cited

http://www.ipaw.org/invaders/buckthorn/indexhttp://www.ipaw.org/invaders/buckthorn/index.htm.htm

http://v3.mmsd.com/HowToHelp.aspxhttp://v3.mmsd.com/HowToHelp.aspx http://www.riverrevitalizationfoundation.org/http://www.riverrevitalizationfoundation.org/ http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/gmu/milw/http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/gmu/milw/