Introducing the Waterway Restoration Partnership

The City of Milwaukee is working with Federal, State, and local partners to clean-up the Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern (AOC). The Milwaukee Estuary includes the three major rivers in our region – Milwaukee, Menomonee, and Kinnickinnic – and Lake Michigan. This area was designated an AOC by an international body that includes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1987.

The AOC is a result of pollution that was caused by historic industrial activities and untreated stormwater runoff. The goal is to clean up our waterways so the Milwaukee Estuary is no longer considered an AOC by the EPA.

Key priorities for the cleanup:

Removing contaminated sediment
Improving and reducing stormwater runoff;
Enhancing water quality for recreation;
Increasing the region’s fish and wildlife habitat

Join the meeting on Monday, March 14 at 5:30 PM for a virtual public meeting to learn about the planned contaminated soil removal for 12 miles of the Milwaukee, Menomonee, and Kinnickinnic rivers. Find out why this cleanup is important to protect our drinking water, how the contamination will be removed, and the impact the cleanup process will have on you.