Posted: Nov. 10, 2009

The idea of swimming, boating and fishing in the Menomonee River would make many people recoil in disgust, knowing that human excrement, bacteria and garbage are floating in the waterway.

But participants of Southeastern Wisconsin Watersheds Trust, otherwise known as Sweetwater, foresee a day - albeit likely years or decades in the future - when people can recreate in the water without worrying about getting sick.

They're hoping residents who have a similar desire will join a watershed action team, a collaboration of environmental groups, governmental bodies and community members aimed at achieving clean water in the river.

The Menomonee River team has started meeting and setting goals, but more residents are needed, said Cheryl Nenn, the member of Milwaukee Riverkeepers who is heading up the team.

Many issues to address

Work likely will focus on three areas: public health, habitat and nutrients.

While the process of cleaning up may seem daunting, Nenn said she "hopes we will be able to make some small wins early on" to build momentum.

Reducing the amount of road salt and chemicals used by nearby golf courses that find their way into the river are two possible goals. A new statewide ban on phosphorus in lawn fertilizer should cut down on algae blooms, which harm other aquatic species by removing oxygen from the water.

Habitat improvements could include restoring eroded stream banks, removing concrete lining from the channel and eliminating barriers that prevent fish from migrating, Nenn said.

In the spring, residents will have the opportunity to become water-quality testers, taking samples in the river after rainfalls. Three samples are needed at each drainage outfall to establish a baseline for future cleanup activities. Action team members also will become "trained observers," looking for unusual materials coming out of pipes draining into the river.

Action team members also could be charged with removing log jams, invasive plants and old sewer pipes blocking parts of the river. Eventually, topics more specific to aesthetics and recreation - what types of native plants to put in, where the ideal location for a canoe launch is, etc. - will serve as discussion points.

City on board

Wauwatosa Public Works Director William Kappel is getting involved on behalf of the city.

"We're part of it whether we want to be or not because a large portion of the river is within the city's boundaries," he said.

So are some of the worst areas of pollution, which Kappel doesn't find surprising due to the city's aging and sometimes leaky pipes, which can allow sewage and other contaminants to enter storm water released into the river. In partnering with Sweetwater, he sees the potential to get grant money that could be used to identify and fix pollution hotspots within the city's sewer systems.

But eventually, water quality improvement work likely will require money from taxpayers, and Kappel sees the action team as a vehicle for educating the public and building support.

"There's a price tag to going after clean water," he said.

Kappel said the team approach "has the feeling of going in the right direction," because it overlooks political boundaries. It involves parties from various municipalities - Brookfield and Menomonee Falls are involved as well - and organizations at the state, regional and county levels, and it looks at the river as a whole, from the headwaters to Lake Michigan.

Environmental groups will be watching the water shed action teams to see if it makes headway in cleaning up the waterway. If so, this approach could be replicated throughout the country, Kappel said.

NEXT STEP

WHAT: The Menomonee River Watershed Action team is looking for Wauwatosa residents to join.

WHEN: The team will meet from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday.WHERE: University of Wisconsin-Extension office, 9501 W. Watertown Plank Road

CONTACT: Cheryl Nenn at (414) 287-0207, Ext. 229, or Cheryl_nenn@milwaukeeriverkeeper.org