sweet water intro-survey mke rotary club 1-25-2011 (2)

8/7/2019 Sweet Water intro-survey MKE Rotary Club 1-25-2011 (2)

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1

Sweet Water

Collaborating to secure healthy and sustainable

water resources throughout the watersheds of

Southeastern Wisconsin


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Southeastern WisconsinWatersheds

Area:

Wat er shed: (in sq. m i les)

K inn ic k inn ic River 24.7

Menom onee River 135.8

Mi lw aukee River 700.0

Oak Creek 28.2

Root River 197.6

Lake Mich igan Di rec t

Dra inage Area 40.7

Total Square Mi le s: 1,127.0

Num ber o f Count ies: 9

Num b e r o f L o c a l Mun ic i p al it i e s: 8 3

Tot al Peren nia l River Mi les: 600+


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Overflows to Lake Michigan have dramaticallydeclined after deep tunnel construction


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1975

Rural-

Agricultural

Runoff21%

CSO's

49%

Urban-Non-

Agricultural

Runoff

23%

WWTP5%

SSO's

2%

2000

Rural-Agricultural

Runoff

21%

CSO's

7%

Urban-Non-

Agricultural

Runoff

68%

WWTP

2%SSO's

2%

but the percentage of pollution from nonpointsources has doubled

IndustrialDischarge

0%

Industrial

Discharge0%

Source Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission

Southeastern Wisconsin Watersheds Fecal Coliform Bacteria Loadings


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SEWRPC 2009Regional

Water Quality PlanUpdate

Milwaukee Metropolitan

Sewerage Districts2020 Facilities Plan

Public Policy Forums2006 Water Panel

Joint water quality initiativeformalized withWisconsin DNR

The formation of Sweet Water the result of two major water initiatives

Nonpoint pollution identifiedas key, both in

urban stormwater andagricultural runoff

A representative group ofstakeholders identified shared

objectives for the watersheds ofGreater Milwaukee

Plans conclusion:A watershed approach is needed

Panels conclusion:Regional collaboration is essential

Chosen solution: Sweet Waterthe Southeastern Wisconsin Watersheds Trust, Inc. 5


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Sweet Waters 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 ManagementDept. Scott Mathie, Metropolitan Builders Association Peter McAvoy, Sixteenth Street Community Health Center Neil Palmer, Village of Elm Grove

Kevin Shafer, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District Dan Stoffel, Washin ton Count Board

6


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Sweet Waters Goals Make measurable progresstoward improving regional water

resources

Support land use practices thatimprove water quality

Forge & strengthen relationships

to find & leverage funding

Recommend policies to assist inprojects producing lasting waterresource benefits

Implement cost-effective projectsthat result in measurableimprovements

7


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Sweet Waters goals for water qualityimprovement 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 SEWRPCs Regional Water QualityManagement Plan Update


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9

Project

Teams

HabitatIndicators

New &Emerging

Issues

WaterQualityTradingPolicy

Watershed-BasedStormWater

Permitting

Menomonee River

Kinnickinnic

River

MilwaukeeRiver

TotalMaximum

DailyLoad

(TMDL)Projects

JoyceGrant

Partners

GLRI, FLMand WCMP

ProjectPartners

WatershedActionTeams

Science

Committee

PolicyCommittee

Sweet

Water

WatershedReport

Cards

Oak Creek

How we work

Watershed ActionTeams to follow:

Root River

NewPhosphoru

s Rules

P bli P li F W Q li S


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Public Policy Forum Water Quality Survey(388 respondents)

Survey

Respondent % Actual % in WatershedsMilwaukee 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%


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Knowledge of our watersheds

A stream orriver

42%

An inland lake

13%

Lake Michigan

44%

Don't know

1%

What is the closest body of water to your home?


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Water quality ratings (5 is highest)


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Same water quality ratingsviewed another way

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Excellent Good Okay Poor Extremely

poor

Don't know

inland lakes, rivers, streams Lake Michigan


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Where does my stormwaterrunoff go?

A storm

sewer

drain in

the street

74%

A roadside

ditch,culvert, or

swale

14%

Stays on

the

property

6%

An

adjacent

body of

water

3%

Don't

know

3%


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Where does my stormwaterrunoff go next?

Sewage

treat-

ment

plant

39%

River or

lake

withoutbeing

treated

30%

Reten-

tion

pond

10% Don'tknow

21%


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Whats the source of problems withour 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 farmsPet waste, geese droppings, or other animal waste

Air pollution from industries and power plants

Soil erosion from construction sites

Soil erosion from farmland


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Perceptions: individual actionsconcerning water quality

Effectiveness of individual actionsParticipating 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 wasteReducing 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

lawnInstalling 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


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Willingness to takeindividual actions


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Values: individual responsibilitytowards water quality

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

I do not see a role for myself in protecting the

regions water resources.

The actions of individuals do not have an

impact on water quality and quantity

Being a good steward of the environment is

an important part of my faith.

I have a responsibility to future generations

to protect the regions water resources.

% agreeing


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Perceptions: a low valuation ofwater and its impact in our area

0

10

20

30

40

50

The quality of water

affects property values in

my community.

Water is a key part of the

regions economic vitality.

Rivers and lakes are an

important part of my

familys recreational

activities.

%a

greeing


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Local impressions vs.national reputation

don't

know

29%

agree

21%

disagree

50%

Southeast Wisconsin is a leader in water

resource protection


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Perceptions: emerging water-related issues

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Sewer overflows into Lake Michigan

Flooding

Water quality in lakes and rivers

Water quality in underground water sources

Climate change

Water shortages or low water levels

Water availability for new developments

% responding "yes"

Will these be water problems during the next decade?


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Sources of information: who istrusted on water-related issues?

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

neighbors

news media

state or local officials

environmental

organizations


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So, what did we learn and what canSweet Water do with it?

Most residents think our rivers and Lake are OKor 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


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Community Action Teams Workingin Targeted Watersheds

S t W t G I f t t


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Sweet Waters Green InfrastructureMini-grants and Other Funding

Partnerships


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Community Outreach and PolicyEducation Efforts Underway


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For more info, visit:swwtwater.org

Or contact:

Jeff Martinka, Executive DirectorSweet 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

Thank you,

Milwaukee Rotary Club!

sweet water intro-survey mke rotary club 1-25-2011 (2)

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