8th Annual Clean Rivers, Clean Lake Conference

Special Guest: Cameron Davis
Senior Advisor to U.S. Environment Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson

Mr. Davis coordinates all Great Lakes policy and funding initiatives for the EPA.

Full day of water quality info about your watersheds
The 2010 Clean Rivers, Clean Lake Conference will offer a full day of water quality information, including workshops for engineering professionals, residents and businesses concerned about water quality in their watersheds, and elected officials and representatives of local government and nonprofits.
The day will include three plenary sessions, a discussion session on new water quality approaches and 11 regional and local water quality experts offering six workshops in multiple tracks.

New this year
A field trip to the nearby $99 million Underwood Creek storm water retention project and exhibit opportunities for service and equipment vendors, academia, and NGOs.

For more information or to register, call 414-225-2161.
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Deadline for Sweet Water Mini-Grants Just 2 Weeks Away!

The Southeast Wisconsin Watersheds Trust, Inc. (Sweet Water) is offering a Mini-Grant Program that will provide grants in the range of $500 - $2,000 to established non-profit organizations, community and civic groups, or schools who will engage in activities which help to implement the objectives of Sweet Water – to achieve healthy and sustainable water resources throughout the 1,100 square mile Greater Milwaukee watersheds. Inquiries have already been received from throughout the basin.

Mini-Grants may be used for a single project or event, or an on-going program, with preference given to projects with long-lasting impact on the community. Mini-Grant award winners will be announced at the 2010 Clean Rivers Clean Lake Conference on September 15 at the Radisson Hotel in Wauwatosa. See the attached RFP for more information, but remember: applications must be delivered (or postmarked) by August 15!
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Painted Rain Barrels photo montage by MMSD

The RiversReport Summer Issue Now On-line

Follow this (link) for the summer issue of the RiversReport.The RiversReport highlights projects, events, and programs advancing water quality and water resource protection throughout the Greater Milwaukee Watersheds. 

The stories in this issue include:

    p. 1   Milwaukee-Area Projects to Receive GLRI Funding

    p. 2   Gathering Waters Festival a Success

    p. 3   Upcoming Clean Rivers, Clean Lake Conference

    p. 3   Sweet Water Mini-Grant Program

    p. 4  River Greenway Approved

    p. 5  "Bio-Blitz to be Held at Cedarburg Bog July 17

    p. 6  Managing the Waters Edge

    p. 6   UWM - Water Tech Certificate

    p. 7   Root-Pike WIN Survey

    p. 8   Water Star Program

    p. 9   Phosphorus Forum

    p. 9   Medicine Collection Program

    p. 10 Area of Concern FAQs

    p.12  Sweet Water Public Policy Award

If you have suggestions for articles, please send inquiries to Kate Morgan at kmorgan@1kfriends.org.

Photo courtesy MMSD

Menomonee River Group Announces Speakers Bureau

The Menomonee River Group announces the creation of a speakers’ bureau focused on water to encourage neighborhood associations, community groups, and local businesses to make water as a topic for their meetings and gatherings.  

A diverse roster of 40 presentations has been assembled.  Topics include water law and regulations; the ecology of our rivers and lakes; recreation, culture and history; challenges; community planning; conservation and stewardship. For the speakers bureau catalog, follow this link.

The Menomonee River Group is a consortium of municipal and county members working together to protect our waterways and Lake Michigan through education and outreach efforts for residents, businesses, and others working in the Menomonee Watershed.  The group members are also members of Sweet Water. 

The Menomonee River Group would like to acknowledge the support of the Joyce Foundation, Sweet Water, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, and 1000 Friends of Wisconsin. 

Sweet Water Recipient of Public Policy Forum Award

Sweet Water accepted an award given by the Public Policy Forum at its Salute to Local Government event on June 17, recognizing the development of Watershed Restoration Plans in the Private-Public Cooperation category.

The Public Policy Forum believes that local governments deserve recognition for their achievements. Constituents can be frustrated, the media critical, and the public at large bewildered or indifferent. Yet there are many examples of strong government performance throughout our region, and of local government workers who excel. The awards event was held to highlight these examples.
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Couldn’t join us at the award event? Jeff’s ‘thank you’ remarks.

From left to right: Jeff Martinka, Executive Director, Sweet Water; Nancy Frank, Steering Council Chair, Sweet Water; Rob Henken, Executive Director, Public Policy Forum