River Currents a Publication of Milwaukee Riverkeeper

SUMMER 2019 RIVER CURRENTS A PUBLICATION OF MILWAUKEE RIVERKEEPER

A CONFLUENCE OF ART & SCIENCE INSIDE THIS ISSUE 3rd Annual Milwaukee Riverkeeper Boat Parade Feature Story: Ahoy, matey! River lovers, musicians, will float up the Milwaukee River through 24th Annual Spring Cleanup boaters and artisans alike are returning to downtown. Riverfront restaurants will our waters for the 3rd Annual Milwaukee open their doors to celebrate the waters Thanks & Highlights Riverkeeper Boat Parade on Sunday, Sep- and watch the parade while viewers enjoy Page 4 tember 8th! local eats and drinks. Inspired by the ever-popular Bosch Pa- Community members are invited to join Riverkeeper Watch Page 6 rade in Holland, artists will showcase their the flotilla with their own aquatic vessel talents by bringing to life enchanting dis- or watch from shore! To get involved, Advocates speak up for our plays that celebrate our precious natural read more about the event, and check resources on the water. This unique twist out updates on viewing locations, visit: waters at Lobby Day 2019 on a traditional community parade is fun milwaukeeriverkeeper.org/milwau- Page 7 for the entire family! Last year’s lineup kee-boat-parade/ involved giant sea turtles, a writhing sea Advocacy in Action: dragon, butterflies and a colossal snail! Want to showcase your own artistic talents? Design a float! Applications are Moving Towards Recovery- The parade will start at noon during reviewed on a rolling basis. Stipends are Milwaukee Area of Concern Harbor District’s Harbor Fest event at available for qualifying artists while space Page 7 the mouth of the Kinnickinnic River and is available! 2 River Currents, 2019 Vol. 2 WELCOME Evinrude generously tipped the world. In July, we will be launching scales with a boat and engine some new initiatives, so please stay donation to help with our water tuned for more ways you can make quality monitoring, restoration, and a difference and help us all work for mission-related work. We cannot change. say thank you enough to all those who contributed to make this event It is hard to believe that Milwau- a huge success. We are humbled by kee Riverkeeper’s Annual Spring the generosity and support. Cleanup has been going on for 24 years. Next year will mark our 25th Plastics (bottles, wrappers, straws, anniversary cleanup, which also bags and even cigarette butts – yes coincides with another momentous Jennifer Bolger Breceda | Executive Director there is even plastic in cigarettes!) celebration—the 50th anniversary of are the most frequently found items Earth Day. Plans to celebrate with a Dear Friend of the Rivers, during our cleanups. There are larger event and cleanup that makes some staggering statistics out there an even bigger impact on our com- Another fabulous spring cleanup is around plastic waste, like, over 140 munity are already underway. Just in the books! Thanks to the thou- metric tons of plastic packaging is because our event is over does not sands of volunteers who once again, thrown out every year; the amount mean the work stops. without fail, descended upon our of bubble wrap produced every waterways to protect and restore year could wrap around the earth’s Every day, Milwaukee Riverkeeper them after a long winter and rainy equator 500 times; 500 billion works tirelessly to Protect, Re- spring. It was a cold day, but you plastic cups/year are used; 480 store, Connect and Advocate for wouldn’t be able to tell from the billion plastic bottles/year were sold our waterways, but we cannot do numbers – over 3,600 volunteers worldwide; one trillion single-use it alone. Without support from our removed close to 90,000 pounds of plastic bags are used annually, or community, partners and sponsors, pollution and trash. 2 million every minute; over half-a- our work would not be possible. So please join us at a summer event, We have a lot of people, groups, billion plastic straws are used every help us advocate for change, and partners, agencies, stakeholders and day; and the statistics go on. back our work through volunteer- businesses to thank (see page 4 for As much as we love our Annual ism, engagement and financial the whole list). It truly takes a united Cleanup and Adopt-a-River Pro- support. village to pull off a Basin-wide gram, we know that the best way event like this. Rock the Green and to keep plastic pollution out of our its volunteers and vendors put on To healthy, free flowing rivers, waterways is to stop it at its source. a festive, zero-waste, sustainable I’m excited to say that we are part of post-party complete with a pedal larger, local coalition of groups and powered stage, local artists Chicken stakeholders working to address the Wire Empire and Lex Allen, local Jennifer Bolger Breceda single-use plastic epidemic in our food trucks, and Good City supplied Executive Director the beer.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chris Daood Lilith Fowler Joseph Cincotta Beth Handle Mike Sauer Treasurer President Michael DiStefano Christian Keene Heather Schmidt Catherine Mercuri Patti McNair Mustafa Emir Demaris Kenwood Brian Spahn Vice President Secretary Jessica Ginster Catherine Mercuri Peter Thornquist River Currents, 2019 Vol. 2 3 Look what we’ve been up to... Everyday Deeds: Remembering Rick Frye

Our May Level 1 Water Quality Mon- itoring Training was a success! New volunteers learned how to take samples and document their findings! We’re thankful to Fund for Lake Michigan for providing the support to continue these programs, and to Riveredge Nature Cen- ter for providing an excellent location for our volunteers to quite literally - get their feet wet!

2018 Annual River Regale Boat Tour Level 1 WQ MonitorTraining

We would like to take a moment to honor Saying Goodbye to Marquette Trini- and recognize the life of Rick Frye. Rick ty Fellow Anna Urban. Our education was a passionate environmentalist and programs are off to an amazing start in dedicated angler. He was a longtime wa- 2019! From on-site cleanups to classroom ter quality monitor and an active volun- facilitation, our Education Coordinator teer. We were proud to call him a friend. spent the last 2 years growing this new program area. We’re so proud of her for Rick gave so much service to the commu- graduating, and wish her well when she nity and very much loved his work with moves on this summer. We’ll be welcom- Southeast Wisconsin Trout Unlimited. ing a new fellow this fall. 2018Patrick Annual Lee WilsonRiver Regale School Boatlearns Tour A memorial fund at the Hunger Task about Water Quality Force has been set up in Rick’s name. Those interested in donating in his mem- ory can reference his name when making Summer event kick-off! We are diving a donation. We wish his loved ones peace into the summer river season head- and thank Rick for his dedication to clean first! We’ve already held a few events and healthy waterways in Wisconsin. including our Barrels & Beer rainbarrel To honor Rick, we will continue to work to workshop at Lakefront Brewery. It was achieve his dream of fishable rivers and fun for the entire family, with so many waterways for his grandchildren and for artistic creations it would be hard to pick all future generations to enjoy. a favorite!

Check out the back cover for upcoming 2018 AnnualBarrels River & Beer Regale at Boat Tour events. Be sure to register, they sell out Lakefront Brewery fast: milwaukeeriverkeeper.org/events

STAFF

Jennifer Bolger Breceda, J.D. Lisa Greco Anne Michalski Katie Rademacher Executive Director Operations Manager Communications Manager Water Quality Volunteer Coordinator Cheryl Nenn, M.S. Leah Holloway Rose Alvarez Anna Urban Riverkeeper Program Manager Cleanup & Event Coordinator Education Coordinator Marshfield Clinic Health System Trinity Fellow AmeriCorps Member

4 River Currents, 2019 Vol. 2

Thanks & Highlights... Not even the threat of snow could keep the community from restoring our rivers at the 24th Annual Spring Cleanup. 3,600 courageous volunteers gathered at 70 sites along our rivers to restore river habitat and remove more than 85,000 pounds of trash. Every year, the event gets bigger and better, and this year we added 6 new sites and reached further north than ever before. In total, we restored 43 miles of river!

THANK YOU SPONSORS We’re so thankful for the support we received this year on the ground and in the waters. 39 businesses, organizations, and agencies shared their commitment to our waterways through generous sponsorships of time, talent and treasure! As an amazing bonus, Evinrude and Alumacraft generously donated a brand new boat and engine to The launch of “The Riverkeeper” our new help Milwaukee Riverkeeper protect and monitor our BOAT courtesy of Evinrude & Alumacraft rivers! Without partners like them, our work would not be possible. 2019 BUSINESS MEMBERS Accelity Marketing | American Transmission Co. | Badger ToyotaLift | Baird | The Boldt Company | Boone & Crockett | Bostik, Inc. | BRP Evinrude | Cargill | Clarke Dietz | Downtown Rotary Club | Department of Public Works | EPIC Creative | Gilbane | Good City Brewing | Inter-Fluve | Jacobs | Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful | Kuhl Family Foundation | L.L. Bean | LaMacchia Group | Milwaukee Boat Line | Milwaukee Valve | Milwaukee County Parks | Milwaukee Kayak Company | Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District | Monarch Creative | National Business Furniture | Natural Awakenings | O’Brien & Gere | Physicians Realty Trust | Purple Door Ice Cream | raSmith | Rock the Green | Sid Grinker Restoration | Symbiont Science, Engineering and Construction, Inc. | Tower View | Visual Impressions | von Briesen & Roper, s.c. | Waterkeeper Alliance | WE Energies Foundation | Yellowwood Gear Become a business member and receive special recognition throughout the year! Contact Rose Alvarez for more info: [email protected] Find a section of the river in your neighborhood and cleanup all season long! River Currents, 2019 Vol. 2 5 TALKING TRASH Every year, we track the wide variety of items found during our annual spring cleanup. This year we uncovered lots of big trash hidden in our waterway. We found: 6 4 Mattresses Chairs 1 2 Couch Shopping Carts 16 6 Tires Bicycles You never know what crazy items you’ll find during a cleanup!

JOIN THE MOVEMENT! We are entering the third season of the Adopt-A-River Program. The program, sponsored through a generous grant from MMSD, allows individuals, organizations, and community groups to adopt sections of waterways in the Milwaukee River Basin. Adopters pledge to clean an adopted section of the river at least two times per year for two years! 29 of the 70 Spring Cleanup sites involved an Adopt-A-River participant. So far, we have 92 adopters and 80 sites.

To learn more, become an adopter, or join a public cleanup in your area, visit: bit.ly/MRKAdopt

Find a section of the river in your neighborhood and cleanup all season long! 6 River Currents, 2019 Vol. 2

No public hearings were held before pass- ous surfaces between 5,000 square ing these “fast tracked” bills. feet and one-half acre anywhere in the Riverkeeper sewer system. Previously, there were Milwaukee Riverkeeper joined several no requirements for developments less other partners in a “friends of the court” than one-half acre. An additional change Watch brief, led by Midwest Environmental requires runoff management at all sites ri- Advocates (MEA), in challenging this part parian to rivers over which the District has of the lame-duck legislation. MRK sup- jurisdiction, including the estuary reaches porters may remember that we recently of these rivers, which was previously not won a lawsuit, with the help of MEA, required. which challenged a settlement agreement between WDNR and the Dairy Business Milwaukee Riverkeeper also submitted Association that limited DNR’s authority several sets of comments, with MEA and to regulate CAFOs through back door ne- Clean Wisconsin, detailing concerns over gotiations. This lame-duck rule is a similar the new draft General Stormwater Permit effort to constrain DNR’s work to protect for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer our waters. Systems. These comments focused, in part on permit language that seemed to We need a strong Clean Water weaken stormwater requirements, as well Act and robust federal funding as on positive changes that incentivize Cheryl Nenn | Riverkeeper more green infrastructure, require better Milwaukee Riverkeeper signed onto sever- planning to reduce bacteria sources, al comment letters challenging proposed and incorporate new pollution reduction Milwaukee Riverkeeper joins changes to the Clean Water Act that de- requirements for municipalities in the fine which waters are protected under the Milwaukee River Basin (as part of new amicus brief challenging Wis- “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) EPA Approved Total Maximum Daily consin “Lame-Duck Rules” definition. The Trump Administration’s Load Plans). The new general permit was proposed changes would remove a wide approved by WDNR. On May 15, the Wisconsin Supreme Court swath of waters, including ephemeral heard arguments in a lawsuit filed by the streams and isolated wetlands, from these League of Women Voters and several Kletzsch Park Fish Passage protections. These changes threaten our other parties on the lame-duck legislation streams, wetlands, and drinking water. Milwaukee County Parks and WDNR passed last year to restrict the powers of are proposing a fish passage project at the newly elected Wisconsin Administra- In addition, Milwaukee Riverkeeper and Kletzsch Park Falls. This is a generation- tion. Much of this lawsuit has focused on many of our partners worked to advance al opportunity to improve connectivity laws to restrict Medicaid eligibility, early a strong budget for the Great Lakes Res- along the Milwaukee River and pass native voting, and challenges to the legality of toration Initiative. The Trump Administra- fish, such as northern pike and sturgeon, holding a legislative session to constrain tion initially zeroed funding out from next around a significant barrier to access the power of a newly elected Governor. year’s budget. Thankfully, the Admin- upstream habitat for spawning. istration changed course after facing One lesser-known part of Wisconsin’s widespread bipartisan opposition. Over a dozen options were considered. lame-duck package involves a require- The WDNR assessed flow requirements ment that all state agencies review their We have also been advocating for strong for fish (most native fish can’t swim entire library of guidance documents, hold base funding for agencies that over- upstream in strong flows) and increased public hearings within 6 months, and un- see many of our restoration programs water levels (flood risk for area residents) dergo certification by agency heads, or be including EPA and NOAA, and for farm bill to find the best option. Significant public rescinded. In addition, the guidance doc- provisions that protect our waters, as well opposition followed a public meeting uments—an estimated 200,000—need to as our working lands. in January where plans for a natural be reviewed by the Legislative Reference “stream-like” fishway were presented due Bureau and placed in the Administra- Changes to MMSD Stormwater to impacts to mature trees, river access, tive Register. Guidance documents are Rules and WDNR Municipal and park amenities. Since then, project not official rules, but provide important Stormwater Permit partners have gone back to the drawing information to businesses and regulated board and are considering alternatives entities about what is required under In our last newsletter, we reported on that may work while also reducing im- state rules, and practices and procedures proposed changes to the Milwaukee pacts to the park. Stay tuned to our web- for meeting state rules. Metropolitan Sewerage District’s Chapter site and social media for more information This law is an effort to bind regulatory 13 rules, which regulate stormwater runoff, on this project. help address flooding, reduce flows to the agencies like the Wisconsin Department To read full comments, learn more, and combined sewer system, and encourage of Natural Resources (WDNR) in red tape, sign up for our action alerts please visit good stormwater management. These create regulatory uncertainty, and make our website: milwaukeeriverkeeper.org MRK Staff meet with State it harder to protect our natural resources. rule changes passed, and now require Representative Evan Goyke green infrastructure for new impervi- River Currents, 2019 Vol. 2 7 Advocates speak up Advocacy In Action for our rivers at the Moving Towards Recovery: Milwaukee Area of Concern The term ‘concern’ is not usually cause for celebration. However, Milwaukee’s State Capitol designation as a potential ‘Priority Area of Concern’ in a new Great Lakes Action Plan could be just that. This new ‘priority’ designation of the Milwaukee Estuary Milwaukee Riverkeeper and hundreds of oth- Area of Concern, by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency—expected to be er conservation water advocates gathered at made soon—could bring increased attention and funding to our area, acceler- the State Capitol in Madison for Conservation ating important restoration work needed to protect our rivers, our wildlife, and Lobby Day 2019. drinking water source, Lake Michigan, as well as improve fishing, swimming, and Milwaukee Riverkeeper, Wisconsin Conser- recreational opportunities. vation Voters and Cream City Conservation The Milwaukee Estuary was initially designated an Area of Concern (AOC) Corps (CCCC) organized a Milwaukee contin- under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement of 1987—one of 31 in the gent which included individuals from the Mil- U.S. —because of historical modifications and pollutant loads that contribut- waukee Riverkeeper Senior Water Advocacy ed toxic contaminants to the AOC and Lake Michigan. Seven AOCs have been Network, youth from Alliance for Climate delisted after a series of Change, students from Escuela Verde High cleanup and restoration School and other environmentalists. Partic- projects, and Milwaukee is ipants took part in learning more about the in the running to become state’s water conservation budget, and then a priority AOC, which met with district legislators. could bring new funding to Governor Tony Evers met with the group and our area for cleanup and shared his proactive agenda for conservation restoration activities. While during his self-proclaimed “Year of Clean the priority designation is Drinking Water!” new, the Milwaukee AOC stakeholders have a history In total, 450 conservation voters and 81 or- of implementing successful ganizations asked legislators to support the projects. This new effort following four budget priorities. would involve renewed and • Raising CAFO fees to create five new po- closer collaboration on the sitions at the DNR part of stakeholders, includ- • Adding $70 million in new bonding to ing representatives from replace lead pipes and improve manure federal, state, county, and management practices city government agencies as well as community mem- • Creating the Office of Sustainability and bers and groups. The goal Clean Energy of this massive community • Reauthorizing the Knowles Nelson Stew- undertaking is to address ardship Program for 10 years legacy contamination and restore beneficial uses in the Milwaukee River Estuary, back to levels similar to other urban areas without the same level of historic industry. Beneficial use impairments that would be addressed include recreational use restrictions, degradation of fish and wildlife habitat and populations, degradation of aesthetics, to name a few. Traditionally, restoration work of this scale takes generations. This opportunity means ongoing restoration efforts (e.g., dredging of contaminated sediments, stream restoration efforts, habitat improvement projects for aquatic and terres- trial life, etc.) are prioritized and executed faster. In this contest, faster does not mean one river season, rather, about 8 years or so. It has taken decades for the Milwaukee River Estuary to reach its current state, and improvements to water quality will not take place overnight. Improvements will be slow and monitored for many years before we see impairments “officially” removed, and the Milwau- kee River Estuary AOC delisted. Nonetheless it is a generational opportunity to make significant gains in water quality. The success of this effort depends on the community, which means public participation is essential to the process. You can get involved by joining the MRK Staff meet with State community advisory committee (Milwaukee Blue Crew), and staying up-to-date Representative Evan Goyke with progress by visiting www.milwaukeeestuaryaoc.com and following along on social media. Nonprofit Organization Collaborative Office Space: U.S. Postage 600 E. Greenfield Avenue PAID Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee, WI 53204 Permit # 3679 www.milwaukeeriverkeeper.org

JOIN US ON THE RIVER AUG CREAM CITY CLASSIC For more information, registration and other events visit: Watch Milwaukee’s one and only open river swim! milwaukeeriverkeeper.org/connect/events 10 Race Start | 8:00am

JUN PADDLE & A POUR | MILWAUKEE AUG MILKY MOONLIGHT Enjoy a guided paddle of the Milwaukee River Marvel at the moon with other river lovers during 18 5:30pm - 9:00pm | $30 14 this twilight paddle 6:15pm | Free

JUN 2019 RIVER REGALE AUG PADDLE & A POUR | KINNICKINNIC Tour our rivers, enjoy drinks, food & fun raffle Enjoy a guided paddle of the Kinnickinnic River 27 prizes! 3:00pm - 5:00pm | $30 20 5:30pm - 9:00pm | $30

3RD ANNUAL BOAT PARADE JULY PADDLE & A POUR | MENOMONEE SEP A fun twist on a family tradition with a floating Enjoy a guided paddle of the Menomonee River parade during Harbor Fest! Noon | Free 16 5:30pm - 9:00pm | $30 8 SAVE THE DATE ADOPT-A-RIVER ORIENTATION AUG FALL MEMBER EVENT Join the movement to restore our rivers NOV Celebrate the year’s progress with other 6 5:30pm - 6:30pm | Free 7 Milwaukee Riverkeeper supporters!