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The Milwaukee Metropolitan
Sewerage District's creation of the Conservation
Plan is visionary work promising great benefits to
the Milwaukee area. MMSD is implementing this
innovative program to combat flooding problems for
three metropolitan Milwaukee rivers: the Menomonee
River, Root River, and Oak Creek. Watercourse
studies of these rivers indicate that demographic
trends will increase existing flooding problems over
the next 20 years. The Plan compliments traditional
storm water management techniques by identifying
undeveloped private properties, potentially at risk
of development, which could provide future flood
prevention benefits.
MMSD retained the services
of The Conservation Fund, Applied Ecological
Services, Inc., Resource Data, Inc., Heart Lake
Conservation Associates, Velasco and Associates, and
K. Singh and Associates to identify undeveloped land
that could continue to provide flood reduction
benefits if left undeveloped. The study of the three
watersheds provides scientific and practical
rationale for protecting these parcels from
development in perpetuity, and for entering into
relationships with public, private, and non-profit
entities to manage these properties to maximize
benefits to the communities they serve. Additionally
these studies provide recommendations for
traditional, engineered strategies to combat
flooding, and acknowledge the importance of
maintaining existing open space to prevent future
flooding.
MMSD is working with local
community groups, municipalities, among others to
acquire or get easement on properties that are
critical in protecting against future flooding in
the Menomonee River, Root River, and Oak Creek
watersheds. The Conservation Plan seeks protection
of important open space at risk of development.
There is a high level of
community interest from public and private agencies
and organizations in participating as partners in
the implementation of the MMSD Conservation Plan.
The Plan in viewed as an innovative and exciting
approach with the potential to achieve multiple
compatible objectives including water retention,
floodwater management, wildlife habitat protection
and creation, and the preservation of open space in
rapidly urbanizing areas.
For more information contact
Bill Graffin,
Public Infomation Manager or visit the
Milwaukee Metropolitan
Sewerage District website.
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