Reaching our targets will lead us to our goal of delisting the AOC, which means the ecological

benefits of the Milwaukee Estuary have been restored to an acceptable level. We will have achieved this when public uses are no longer impaired by legacy contamination and, native plants and wildlife are sustainably protected. As toxic sediment is removed and habitat restoration continues, the river is be-coming a more and more valuable resource for recreation and the local economy.

Milwaukee EstuaryMilwaukee EstuaryMilwaukee Estuary Area of ConcernArea of ConcernArea of Concern Milwaukee Estuary Area of ConcernMilwaukee Estuary Area of ConcernMilwaukee Estuary Area of Concern

Milwaukee EstuaryMilwaukee Estuary——part of the largest fresh surface water resource in the worldpart of the largest fresh surface water resource in the world——the Great Lakes ecosystemthe Great Lakes ecosystem

The Milwaukee Estuary was designated an Area of Concern (AOC) in the 1980s because contaminated river sediment im-paired public benefits such as fish consumption, healthy fisheries, boat access and wildlife habitat.

B E N E F I C I A L U S E I M P A I R M E N T R E S T O R A T I O N R E P O R TB E N E F I C I A L U S E I M P A I R M E N T R E S T O R A T I O N R E P O R T

Summer 2017

Brochure development by Gail Epping Overholt, UW-Extension Regional Natural Resources Program, Kendra Axness and Emily Punke, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Office of Great Waters. Graphic design by Jeffrey J. Strobel, UW-Extension Environmental Resources Center.

Wisconsin DNR Office of Great Waters

Kayaking the Milwaukee River

Children playing at Bradford Beach. Milwaukee River

Juvenile Lake Sturgeon

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River cleanups remove toxins contaminating fish and habitat. Above: Dredging at Lincoln Park. Photo: Duane Thomas, EA Engineering.

To learn more about Milwaukee Estuary AOC projects and progress visit http://dnr.wi.gov, search “Milwaukee AOC.” For more de-tails, refer to the Area of Concern Remedial Action Plan Updates.

Fishing in the harbor.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and citizen groups identified 11 Benefi-cial Use Impairments (BUIs) to target here for im-proving the rivers and estuary. G

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See the progress report inside

BUI REMOVED Monitor and Assess (MA) Develop AOC Projects (DP) Implement Projects (IP) Verify Results (VR) Formal BUI Removal (RM)

Tackling AOC problems, known as Benefi-

cial Use Impairments in the Area of Concern program, requires several steps. We must un-derstand the causes and define the extent of the impairments through monitoring, assessment, and data analysis. We then determine the nec-essary actions to address the problems, and im-plement them.

Actions to address AOC problems can be large and complex, requiring the coordinated efforts of many partners over multiple years. Upon completing the necessary actions, we must veri-fy through monitoring that we have achieved our goals for cleanup and restoration. Once the goals have been met and the problems have been addressed, the AOC designation can be re-moved.

This update shows the current status (Summer 2017) of the removal process for 11 impairments of the Milwaukee Estuary AOC – complete, underway, or not started – and the next steps. Dates in parentheses indicate the anticipated project completion.

Milwaukee Estuary AOC – Restoration Status Update

BUI Removal Phases:

MONITOR & ASSESS: define the problem, gather data and review literature, consult with experts.

DEVELOP AOC PROJECTS: engage stakeholders to develop the set of projects that are necessary for reaching AOC goals.

IMPLEMENT PROJECTS: take action to improve conditions within the AOC if monitoring data shows goals are not being met.

VERIFY RESULTS: after actions have been taken, monitor to determine if target has been met.

FORMAL BUI REMOVAL: targets have been met. BUI removal docu-mentation is being prepared or reviewed, or has been submitted.

Status of Each Phase: Not Started Underway Complete

Left: Native plantings. Lower Left: Restored Menomonee River. Below right: Fish con-sumption and water contact health adviso-ries. Photos: DNR

RETURN TO PROCESS STEPS IF TARGETS NOT REACHED

Summer 2017

Excessive nutrients cause undesirable algae

Complete nutrient pollu-tant reductions plan needed to improve water quality (Total Maximum Daily Load plan or TMDL, 2018).

Determine the manage-ment actions that are needed in the Estuary.

RM

NEXT STEPS:

MA DP IP VR

Fish & wildlife populations are degraded

Complete fish and wildlife population studies to assess the state of the impairment (2017).

Identify and prioritize projects, with considera-tion for challenges of spe-cies success in an urban environment (2018).

Continue cleanup of pol-luted sites which contribute to population decline.

RM

NEXT STEPS:

MA DP IP VR

Water contact through beach use or other recreation is limited

Complete bacterial source tracking project to deter-mine the most critical areas for infrastructure improvements.

Support Milwaukee Coun-ty and other partners to address high bacterial levels at South Shore beach.

RM

NEXT STEPS:

MA DP IP VR

There are increased rates of fish tumors and deformities

Continue cleanup of sites that contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), metals and other substances that cause fish tumors.

RM

NEXT STEPS:

MA DP IP VR

Appearance of rivers and waterfront needs improvement

Work with local organizations to complete third season of aesthetics monitoring volunteer data collection (2017).

Assess BUI status and determine any necessary projects based on monitoring results (2018).

RM

NEXT STEPS:

MA DP IP VR

There is increased potential for bird and animal deformities and reproductive problems

Evaluate results of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) tree swal-low study to determine extent of impairment.

Continue cleanup of riv-erbed sediments to re-move harmful toxins known to cause deformi-ties and reproduction problems

RM

NEXT STEPS:

MA DP IP VR

Communities of small organisms living in the water are degraded

Evaluate results of USGS plankton study to deter-mine health of the com-munity of small organisms in the AOC.

Determine if excessive nutrients and/or toxic water conditions are caus-ing impairment.

Determine management actions based on study results.

RM

NEXT STEPS:

MA DP IP VR

Communities of sediment-dwelling organisms are degraded

Evaluate results of USGS study of sediment-dwelling organisms to determine the health of the benthic community .

Identify additional studies to fully under-stand benthic conditions in the AOC.

Continue cleanup of pol-luted riverbed sediments.

RM

NEXT STEPS:

MA DP IP VR

Loss of fish and wildlife habitat

Continue cleanup of pol-luted riverbed sediments which degrade habitat.

Continue to implement the list of eleven habitat projects that address the impairment in coopera-tion with local partners.

RM

NEXT STEPS:

MA DP IP VR

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RM

There are health concerns with eating fish and wildlife

Continue cleanup of riv-erbed sediments containing polychlorinat-ed biphenyls (PCBs) and other toxins which contaminate fish and wildlife.

Reassess consumption concerns of fish and wild-life following sediment cleanup actions.

RM

NEXT STEPS:

MA DP IP VR

Dredging activities for commerce or navigation are restricted

Complete cleanup to re-move harmful PCBs, PAHs, and heavy metals from riverbed sediments in contaminated hotspots such as Cedar Creek, Sol-vay Coke and Burnham Canal.

Assess other potential sites with polluted sedi-ment in the Milwaukee and Menominee River and Estuary.

RM

NEXT STEPS:

MA DP IP VR