Sweet Water, led by its Policy Committee, is engaged in key water quality regulatory initiatives

and discussions taking place in the Greater Milwaukee Watersheds of Southeastern Wisconsin. 

These include:

1.  the development of third-party TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) analyses for the Milwaukee Estuary and the Milwaukee, Menomonee, and the Kinnickinnic Rivers;

2.  the development of a framework for a watershed-based stormwater permit for the Menomonee River; and

3.  Wisconsin's new phosphorus regulation and associated trading and adaptive management option

Courtesy US Army Corps of Engineers

TMDL Initiative: Milwaukee Estuary and Milwaukee, Kinnickinnic, and Menomonee Rivers

MMSD was awarded four Great Lake Restoration Initiative grants from the EPA to fund the development of third-party TMDLs for the Greater Milwaukee Watershed.  MMSD has hired CDM as the lead consultant on all four TMDLs. 

The TMDL analysis will determine the maximum amount of particular pollutants that can be received by a river or water body without impacting water quality.  The pollutants of concern for the TMDL analysis include fecal coliform, sediment, and phosphorus.

Sweet Water was selected by MMSD to coordinate and secure stakeholder involvement and lead the public outreach effort for the initiative.  The first stakeholder meeting was held November 14th, 2011.

Key Documents and White Papers

For more information about this initiative, visit MMSD's web site where agendas, presentations, and meeting notes will be archived.

March 5 TMDL Stakeholder Meeting:

WI DNR presentation

CDM Presentation

Watershed-based Permit for Menomonee River

MMSD received a $100,000 grant from the EPA to fund the development of a framework for a watershed-based stormwater permit for the Menomonee River Watershed. 

The Menomonee River Watershed is one of three watersheds chosen by the EPA as a pilot for the development of watershed-based stormwater permits. The other two watersheds are the Middle Rio Grande in New Mexico and the Ramsey Washington Metro Watershed District in Minnesota.

These pilot projects follow a study conducted by the National Research Council that recommended that stormwater permits be formed on watershed boundaries rather than municipal boundaries.

MMSD contracted with the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC) to serve as the consultant for this project.  Summary notes from the meetings can be found at this link.

Representatives from municipalities within the Menomonee River Watershed, EPA, WI DNR, SEWRPC and Sweet Water partners began regular bi-monthly meetings in June of 2011.  

This initiative builds on an initial joint stormwater permit issued to 8 cooperating municipalities in the Menomonee River Watershed and has now expanded to include other municipalities within the watershed.

Key Presentations, Documents, and White Papers

EPA Pilot Partners

Presentations:

Middle Rio Grande, NM

Ramsey Washington Metro

Watershed, MN

Foundation Documents:

Menomonee Watershed Based

Framework Part 1

Menomonee Watershed Based Framework Part 2

Wisconsin's new phosphorus regulation, water quality trading, and adaptive management option

As new watershed-wide water quality initiatives are discussed and explored, Wisconsin's phosphorus regulation, water quality trading and the adaptive management option will need to be better understood to be used effectively in these broader initiatives. 

Sweet Water has taken a lead in initiating the discussion of these regulatory tools through public forums, white papers and conference workshops on these topics.  Our web site and newsletter are a sources for information on upcoming events related to these topics.

Key Presentations, Documents and White Papers

Water Quality Trading White Paper

DNR -- Phosphorus and Trading Guidance Document

Water Policy Forum 11/14/11 Presentations:

Amanda Minks -- WI DNR:

Adaptive Management

John Kennedy -- Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District: Water Quality Trading Permittee POV

Kevin Kirsch -- WI DNR:

State-wide Water Quality Trading Framework

Melissa Malott -- Clean WI:

WI Adaptive Management Option

TMDL Factsheets

Conference Brochure

Watershed-Based Permitting

June 22, 2009

Note: Ad Hoc 303d Working Group