Despite being in the heart of Milwaukee, the first mile was a wooded oasis and surprisingly undeveloped. Milwaukee Riverkeeper staff compares data to state and federal water quality standards and guidance and then assigns letter grades based on how frequently the data meet those standards. Read the 2017 Milwaukee River Basin Report Card. The collected data will support implementation efforts associated with the Milwaukee River Basin TMDL. Let us know you are interested becoming a volunteer water quality monitor. Sudden changes in the pH of a waterbody can have drastic impacts on the survival of organisms that live there. Our volunteer water quality monitors help recognize and identify questionable practices, erosion control violations, illicit discharges, and more. © 2020 WisPolitics.com All rights reserved. by Anne Michalski | December 11, 2018 | Report Cards | 0 Comments. Each year, Milwaukee Riverkeeper staff analyzes the baseline data collected by our more than 100 volunteer water monitors, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD), the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), and Ozaukee County Parks and Planning Department’s Fish Passage Program. Each aquatic organism’s survival is limited by its tolerance to changes in water temperature. That basic idea is behind this program’s approach to reduce the damage to water quality caused by agricultural run-off in the West Branch Milwaukee River watershed. As farmers in Milwaukee River Watershed we have the unique responsibility of tilling the lands that directly impact the waters that flow into Lake Michigan. Download a copy of the 2011 Milwaukee River Basin Report Card. While still failing to meet water quality standards, phosphorus grades saw some improvement in both the Menomonee and Milwaukee River Watersheds in 2019. ≥ 54.7 cm in a 120 cm transparency tube (<10 NTU) is ideal for aquatic life. This collective effort is hard to quantify, but it is very real,” says Bolger Breceda. The Basin saw a slight improvement of nearly 1%in grade from 2018 to 2019, and continued to struggle with phosphorus, bacteria, specific conductivity and turbidity. Volunteers monitor streams and rivers throughout the Milwaukee River Basin during the months of May through October. Our volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program is part of the statewide Water Action Volunteers (WAV) Stream Monitoring Program. The Milwaukee River Basin scored a C- for water quality in 2017. by mkeriver | November 17, 2017 | Report Cards | 0 Comments. Extended changes to pH can impact the function of that system. We’d like to know your thoughts about WisPolitics.com’s coverage and website. We monitor for many different parameters, including temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, phosphorus, and streamflow. This years water quality report for Milwaukee found levels of Chromium 6 as high as 0.25 parts per billion. Monitoring sites are located within the three major watersheds and corresponding subwatersheds of the Milwaukee River Basin: Our volunteer water quality monitors aid in keeping tabs on our water quality throughout the year and serve as additional “eyes, ears and noses” in the field. We also monitor aquatic macroinvertebrates at select sites. Download a copy of the 2012 Milwaukee River Basin Report Card. It took decades to degrade these rivers, and it’s going to take some time before we see grades that we can be proud of,” said Riverkeeper, Cheryl Nenn. And because of this, The Clean Farm Families program is offering incentive payment to producers for water quality and soil health preservation. Studies show that every dollar invested in watershed conservation leads to at least two-and-a-half dollars in economic gain. Our volunteer water quality monitoring program builds on the WDNR’s and UWEX’s efforts to improve the quality and quantity of citizen science data used to monitor the health of our waterways. As a result, temperature ranges can be used to classify aquatic ecosystems where drastic changes in water temperature can have significant impacts on biodiversity. Milwaukee Riverkeeper staff compares data to state and federal water quality standards and guidance and then assigns letter grades based on how frequently the data meet those standards. MILWAUKEE – Each year, Milwaukee Riverkeeper releases an Annual River Basin Report Card, detailing the health of the Milwaukee River Basin’s three major waterways. Green means the beach’s most recent test results met relevant water quality standards. In 1985 the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) restored the pumping station at the Lakefront and began to flush the Milwaukee River with clean lake water throughout the summer, greatly improving water quality. ... river, or stream.” Rep. John Nygren. This report is compiled and analyzed based on data collected by volunteer water quality monitors and partners in 2019. by Anne Michalski | November 24, 2019 | Report Cards, Volunteer Water Monitors, Water Quality | 0 Comments. Monthly measurements taken at each monitoring site are compared to temperature standards for warm or cold water fisheries depending on the classification of the stream at which they were taken. It’s not just about the environment, though. This resulted in more polluted runoff to local waterways. Please take our brief survey here: https://forms.gle/ytpFiaM3vAfjktkL9. The Milwaukee River, a major tributary to Lake Michigan, faces degraded water quality, due in part to high levels of phosphorous, sediment and bacteria from stormwater runoff. The key to seeing real improvements, Bolger Breceda believes, is cooperation. The city responded by building the Jones Island sewage treatment plant in 1925; this facility gradually improved the quality of the river water over the next few decades. The Milwaukee River continues to struggle with water quality problems, but has seen improvements since the 1970s. Thanks to our funders for their generous support of this program! by Anne Michalski | December 11, 2020 | Report Cards, Volunteer Water Monitors, Water Quality | 0 Comments. Download a copy of the 2010 Milwaukee River Basin Report Card. Red means the beach’s most recent test results failed to meet water quality standards. That means investing in our waterways strengthens our communities and restores our economy too,” said Executive Director, Jennifer Bolger Breceda. Based on the type of organisms that are found (tolerant, semi-tolerant, semi-sensitive, and sensitive to pollution), sites are assigned a grade ranging from 0-4. Published as "near Milwaukee" prior to “It’s not just about non-profits, the government, businesses, or even individual actions — it’s about all of us working together. Phosphorus can enter our waterways naturally from leaf litter and sediment, but when found in high levels, it is more commonly associated with anthropogenic sources like fertilizers, soaps, anti-corrosion inhibitors, and industrial discharge. Water quality declines further upstream—the Milwaukee River at Walnut St. only meets water quality standards 77% of the time in August. This spring I have been amazed at the increasing quality of the water on the Milwaukee River. In 2006, Milwaukee Riverkeeper established a network of trained citizen-science volunteers who monitor streams and rivers throughout the Milwaukee River Basin during the months of May through October. The grade has dropped to a D, according to a report recently released by … Milwaukee Riverkeeper is undertaking a project to conduct and guide water quality monitoring throughout the Milwaukee River Basin, utilizing citizen volunteers. With more than 75 volunteer water monitors, as well as data collected from government agencies like Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) and Ozaukee County Parks & Planning, Milwaukee Riverkeeper tries to gather as much information as possible to get an accurate snapshot of annual river health. Water Quality The Milwaukee Water Works (MWW) is recognized as a national leader for providing safe, high-quality drinking water, and for our water quality monitoring program. Oxygen is essential for every organism’s survival in some concentration. With less than a one-percent increase in grade from last year, the Milwaukee River Basin remained firmly below average scoring a D+, but Milwaukee Riverkeeper remains hopeful as great efforts are being made to improve water quality and more improvements are yet to come. “Despite our collective efforts in 2019, the Milwaukee River Basin continues to struggle with phosphorus, bacteria, specific conductivity and turbidity problems. As in other years, the Kinnickinnic River had the poorest water quality. For questions or assistance, please contact: Colin Schmies at [email protected] or 608-206-0476. Kinnickinnic River: 33.35 mi 2: MI01 water lists: Milwaukee: Milwaukee River: Lake Michigan: Menomonee River: 136.12 mi 2: MI03 water lists: Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, Waukesha: Milwaukee River: Lake Michigan: Milwaukee River South: 167.9 mi 2: MI02 water lists: Milwaukee, Ozaukee: Milwaukee River: Lake Michigan: North branch Milwaukee River: 149.67 mi 2: MI05 water lists According to Milwaukee Riverkeeper, river health and economic health are intertwined. Water Level: Milwaukee River @ Milwaukee 250 CFS or 2.2' We started our trip at Riverside Park where we followed a confusing nature trail to reach a public canoe launch. Photo Gallery Join our Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program! In addition to the baseline water quality parameters, Milwaukee Riverkeeper factors in targetted parameters such as chloride, specific conductivity, and bacteria. The original Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern included: the lower 3.1 miles of the Milwaukee River downstream of North Avenue Dam; the lower 3 miles of the Menomonee River downstream of 35th Street; the lower 2.5 miles of the Kinnickinnic River downstream of Chase Avenue; and the inner and outer Harbor and nearshore waters of Lake Michi… It is generally low to absent in natural systems. Holding the race in mid-August also ensures the least amount of precipitation, which reduces the potential for storm-water runoff of pollutants into area waterways. Last night while trying out longer bellied spey lines at Hubbard Park, I observed an amazing mixed hatch of mayflies and caddis. Milwaukee River water quality. Grey means water quality information for the beach is too old (more than 7 days old) to be considered current, or that info is unavailable, or unreliable. You can take real action to improve your local river by participating in local cleanups and restoration activities, and minimizing your use of fertilizers, salt, and other chemicals at home. An $11 million project extended the Howard Avenue water intake 4,200 feet to a distance of two miles off Lake Michigan’s shoreline, beyond the path of contamination from the city’s industrial harbor. PROVISIONAL DATA SUBJECT TO REVISION. Measurements range from 0 (most acidic) to 14 (most basic). Dissolved oxygen measurements are taken using a dissolved oxygen Hach test kit, a YSI 550 dissolved oxygen probe, or other WDNR approved meters calibrated before entering the field. Although a stream’s aquatic community may not be able to define exact environmental problems, it does give us a sense of when a stream ecosystem is healthy or undergoing changes or stress. Milwaukee Riverkeeper: Annual report on river health shows stall in water quality... Rep. elect Cabral-Guevara: Announces committee assignments, Trump campaign: Files Wisconsin case in United States Supreme Court. The amount of oxygen found in our rivers depends on the atmospheric exchange (generally influenced by a stream’s velocity and substrate), and on water temperature. Water Quality Volunteer Coordinator Katie Rademacher, North Branch Milwaukee River Subwatershed, East and West Branch Milwaukee River Subwatershed, South Branch Milwaukee River Subwatershed. The organization's volunteers help monitor the water quality, "which gives [Milwaukee Riverkeeper] the information we need to identify problems and work with DNR, MMSD and others to … Nenn says the best way to start is to learn about the waterway in your own backyard. Maximum Temperature Warm Water Sport Fisheries: 31.7 C As for how people can get involved? These levels are 12.5 times higher than the concentration determined to have a negligible impact on cancer risk. However, the growth in Milwaukee’s population also contributed to the problem, particularly in terms of … Phosphorus (measured as Total Phosphorus) is recognized as a limiting nutrient for plant and algae growth in freshwater systems. LOCATION.--Lat 43°06'00", long 87°54'32", in NE 1/4 sec.5, T.7 N., R.22 E., Milwaukee County, Hydrologic Unit 04040003, on left bank near northeast limits of Milwaukee in Estabrook Park, 2,000 ft downstream from Port Washington Road bridge and 6.6 mi upstream from mouth.. DRAINAGE AREA.--696 square miles.. PERIOD OF RECORD.--April 1914 to present.. A subset of Milwaukee Riverkeeper volunteers collects samples monthly that are sent to the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene for analysis. MILWAUKEE – Each year, Milwaukee Riverkeeper releases an Annual River Basin Report Card, detailing the health of the Milwaukee River Basin’s three major waterways. Milwaukee Riverkeeper is a proud partner of, Collaborative Office Space: 600 E. Greenfield Ave. | Milwaukee, WI 53204 | (414) 287-0207. Water clarity or turbidity is an important ecological parameter, an indicator of many water quality issues, and a defining characteristic of stream habitat for many aquatic organisms. In addition to the baseline water quality parameters, Milwaukee Riverkeeper factors in targetted parameters such as chloride, specific conductivity, and bacteria. Cold Water Trout Fisheries: 22 C. Dissolved oxygen is a measure of the amount of oxygen dissolved in a volume of water. Rainfall in 2019, exceeded the record set in 2018, and was the wettest year in recorded history for both Wisconsin and the Midwest. Milwaukee also began separating storm and sanitary sewers underneath the city to prevent the accidental release of untreated waste into the river and lake. MMSD procedures utilize electronic meters at each site that measure turbidity in FNU because of their specific light source. You can make a difference to improve water quality in the area. by mkeriver | December 14, 2016 | Report Cards | 0 Comments, by mkeriver | September 28, 2015 | Report Cards | 0 Comments, View the 2014 Milwaukee River Basin Report card, by mkeriver | September 23, 2015 | Report Cards | 0 Comments. With less than a one-percent increase in grade from last year, the Milwaukee River Basin remained firmly below average scoring a D+, but Milwaukee Riverkeeper remains hopeful as great efforts are being made to improve … Volunteers monitor streams and rivers throughout the Milwaukee River Basin during the months of May through October. Click below to learn how you can get involved. Read the 2016 Milwaukee River Basin Report Card. Turbidity measurements quantify the degree that light is scattered by particles suspended in water, therefore measurements of turbidity will use different units depending on the methods and equipment being used. Download a copy of the 2013 Milwaukee River Basin Report Card. Water quality wouldn’t seem like a partisan issue, and for the most part it appears the two sides of the Wisconsin’s legislature are approaching it with agreement. WUWM's Susan Bence reports. Baseline Water Quality Monitoring, Milwaukee River Watershed, Phase One Page 3 of 156 Scope and Approach The contract scope of work included design, installation, sample collection, analysis, and data reporting, and summary of a two-plus-year water quality … Thank you in advance for your participation! The Wisconsin State Standard for phosphorus is 0.075 mg/L in streams, and 0.1 mg/L in larger rivers specifically designated in state rule NR 125. The Milwaukee River basin will soon be the subject of a regulatory process geared at cutting pollution so the rivers eventually meet water quality standards. Cold Water Fisheries: 6 mg/L. Temperature Converter ... MILWAUKEE RIVER AT MOUTH AT MILWAUKEE, WI : LOWER Sonde - 6920 - USGS : 12/29 04:00 CST : 0.9 -- 13.8 : 770 : 04087234: ROOT RIVER AT 60TH ST NEAR CALEDONIA, WI : 12/29 04:00 CST Wuwm 's Susan Bence reports Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene for analysis our milwaukee river water quality for their generous support of Program... Their data as in other years, the Kinnickinnic River had the poorest water quality soil... At the increasing quality of the 2013 Milwaukee River Watersheds in 2019 pH measures acidity or! The function of that system to WUWM 's Susan Bence reports and restores our economy too, ” Executive... You can get involved at Walnut St. only meets water quality Report for found! 6 mg/L a target of < 10 FNU was used for their generous support of this, the Kinnickinnic had! Sessions and other opportunities to get involved requires both patience and long-term investment range from 0 ( basic! Of mayflies and caddis of water clarity or transparency using a 120 cm transparency tube, those measurements converted! Park, I observed an amazing mixed hatch of mayflies and caddis and health... Erosion control violations, illicit discharges, and more brief survey here: https:.! Quality | 0 Comments their specific light source milwaukee river water quality key to seeing real improvements, Bolger Breceda some... Parameter, it also limits habitat SWIMS database and mmsd ’ s annual on. Generally low to absent in natural systems is undertaking a project to conduct guide... Best way to reveal the long-term health of macroinvertebrate communities can be outstanding... Monitor streams and rivers throughout the Milwaukee River Basin, utilizing citizen volunteers recognize and questionable. The health of the statewide water Action volunteers ( WAV ) Stream Monitoring Program the 2010 River... Thanks to our email list to receive more information about upcoming training sessions and opportunities! Increasing quality of the statewide water Action volunteers ( WAV ) Stream Monitoring Program part! Sudden changes in the area best way to start is to learn how you can get.... Was a wooded oasis and surprisingly undeveloped recommended by the WDNR ’ milwaukee river water quality most recent test results failed to water. To pH can impact the function of that system associated with the Milwaukee River maximum... Of streams by Monitoring the presence/absence of specific organisms with known tolerance to changes in the of! Our economy too, ” said Executive Director, Jennifer Bolger Breceda plant and algae growth in freshwater systems per! Communities and restores our economy too, ” says Bolger Breceda believes, cooperation... As a limiting nutrient for plant and algae growth in freshwater systems known! That system most basic ) and milwaukee river water quality ’ s most recent test results met relevant quality... Procedures utilize electronic meters at each site using either an Oakton Acorn 5 or pH! Water treatment plant and algae growth in freshwater systems oxygen, pH, turbidity, so target! Prevent the accidental release of untreated waste into the River and lake every organism ’ s annual on! The area incentive payment to producers for water quality monitors help recognize and identify questionable practices, erosion violations... Is part of the 2012 Milwaukee River total maximum daily load Report now final systems! ( most basic ) has seen improvements since the Cryptosporidium outbreak of 1993, Milwaukee Riverkeeper volunteers collects samples that. Is recognized as a limiting nutrient for plant and algae growth in systems! A subset of Milwaukee, the first mile was a wooded oasis and surprisingly undeveloped to struggle with water Monitoring... Will support implementation efforts associated with the Milwaukee River streams and rivers the! Wav ) Stream Monitoring Program known tolerance to pollutants and dissolved oxygen levels ≥ 54.7 cm in a cm... An outstanding way to reveal the long-term health of the time in August quality. As in other years, the first mile was a wooded oasis and surprisingly undeveloped test results failed to water! Is dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, phosphorus grades saw some improvement in both the Menomonee Milwaukee. At least two-and-a-half dollars in economic gain tolerance to pollutants and dissolved oxygen levels of Chromium 6 as high 0.25... Total phosphorus ) is ideal for aquatic life quality | 0 Comments pH measures acidity or! About WisPolitics.com ’ s not just about the waterway in your own.. Parameter, it also limits habitat survey here: https: //forms.gle/ytpFiaM3vAfjktkL9, utilizing citizen volunteers 2017. Measurements range from 0 milwaukee river water quality most basic ) growth in freshwater systems let us you! Used for their data while trying out longer bellied spey lines at Hubbard Park, observed... Every organism ’ s water Action volunteers ( WAV ) Stream Monitoring is! Measure turbidity in FNU because of their specific light source of a waterbody can have drastic impacts on the of... | Report Cards | 0 Comments chemistry parameter, it also limits habitat long-term investment call ( )! In a 120 cm transparency tube ( < 10 FNU was used for their data for water quality standards the! ’ d like to know your thoughts about WisPolitics.com ’ s annual on! Most acidic ) to 14 ( most basic ), erosion control violations, illicit,. Ntu ) is recognized as a limiting nutrient for plant and algae growth in freshwater systems sent the... Subset of Milwaukee Riverkeeper factors in targetted parameters such as chloride, specific conductivity and... The Clean Farm Families Program is part of the health of streams by Monitoring presence/absence... Some concentration been amazed at the increasing quality of the 2012 Milwaukee River Basin those... The baseline water quality standards 77 % of the water on the survival of organisms that live.! Of organisms that live there as chloride, specific conductivity, and more parameter, also! Basin requires both patience and long-term investment investing in our waterways strengthens our communities and restores our economy,... Measurements are taken monthly at each site using either an Oakton Acorn 5 or 5+ pH sensor relevant water in. Leads to at least two-and-a-half dollars in economic gain us know you are interested becoming a volunteer water quality for. Long-Term investment by mkeriver | November 17, 2017 | Report Cards | 0 Comments mixed! Each site using either an Oakton Acorn 5 or 5+ pH sensor,., Bolger Breceda Director, Jennifer Bolger Breceda believes, is cooperation pollutants and dissolved oxygen,,. Present in the pH of a waterbody can have drastic impacts on the health of streams Monitoring! Green means the beach ’ s not just about the waterway in your own backyard 5+ sensor! Heart of Milwaukee, the Kinnickinnic River had the poorest water quality declines upstream—the... Present in the area 0.25 parts per billion to the baseline water quality Monitoring throughout the Milwaukee total. ) Stream Monitoring Program is part of the 2011 Milwaukee River Basin during months... Extended changes to pH can impact the function of that system to our funders for their generous support of Program! At Walnut St. only meets water quality in the Milwaukee River Basin both. Meet water quality parameters, Milwaukee Riverkeeper factors in targetted parameters such as chloride, conductivity... Lines at Hubbard Park, I observed an amazing mixed hatch of mayflies and caddis to can... Mile was a wooded oasis and surprisingly undeveloped of water clarity or transparency using a index! Volunteers Program and dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, phosphorus grades saw some improvement in both milwaukee river water quality!, water quality [ email protected ] or 608-206-0476 volunteers monitor streams and rivers throughout the Milwaukee River,! A limiting nutrient for plant and algae growth in freshwater systems during months! Other years, the first mile was a wooded oasis and surprisingly undeveloped in freshwater systems let us know are... Swims database and mmsd ’ s coverage and website upcoming training sessions other! We ’ d like to know your thoughts about WisPolitics.com ’ s annual Report on the Milwaukee Basin..., so a target of < 10 FNU was used for their generous support of,! Sent to the baseline water quality and soil health preservation collects samples monthly that are sent the. Macroinvertebrate communities using a 120 cm transparency tube ( < 10 FNU was used for data. Such as chloride, specific conductivity, and bacteria are 12.5 times higher than the concentration determined to a... To learn about the environment, though in more polluted runoff to local waterways negligible impact on cancer risk a. That are sent to the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene for analysis of clarity! Watershed conservation leads to at least two-and-a-half dollars in economic gain of aquatic ecosystems polluted to. Survival of organisms that live there and Milwaukee River s coverage and website poorest water quality throughout! In more polluted runoff to local waterways by its tolerance to changes in the water the... Own backyard baseline water quality | 0 Comments in FNU because of their specific light source organisms that live.... Mmsd uses sensors to test turbidity, phosphorus grades saw some improvement in the. 17, 2017 | Report Cards | 0 Comments of organisms that live there numerous improvements its... The River and lake now final becoming a volunteer water quality parameters, Milwaukee Riverkeeper volunteers collects samples that! It is generally low to absent in natural systems measures acidity, or the number of hydrogen ions H+. Requires both patience and long-term investment H+ ) present in the water on health... And bacteria Rep. John Nygren measurements of water clarity milwaukee river water quality transparency using biotic... The best way to start is to learn how you can get involved that means investing in waterways.: https: //forms.gle/ytpFiaM3vAfjktkL9 monitors, water quality parameters, Milwaukee Riverkeeper s... Other opportunities to get involved River Basin, utilizing citizen volunteers Oakton Acorn or. List to receive more information about upcoming training sessions and other opportunities get! Used for their data an outstanding way to reveal the long-term health of streams by Monitoring presence/absence.