Capture Rain Where It Falls: New Green Infrastructure Plan approved for Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Note to Reader:
The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District has created a systematic plan to implement widespread green infrastructure. As a regional agency, the District is uniquely positioned to lead green infrastructure planning for the Milwaukee region and has funding to undertake the work. Technical analyses for the region’s impervious surfaces, costs/benefits, and recommendations have all been completed. In July 2013, the District’s Commission approved a Regional Green Infrastructure Plan.
Downtown Milwaukee (Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons)
Capture the First Half-Inch
“Just recently, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District’s Commission approved a new Regional Green Infrastructure Plan for their service area,” wrote Sean Foltz, Associate Director of the American Rivers Clean Water Program, in an article posted on the The River Blog.
“American Rivers played a role in helping the lead consultants CH2M HILL and CDM SMITH in some of the planning efforts.”
“The plan calls for capture of the first 0.5 inch of rainfall across the region by the use of green roofs, rain barrels and porous pavement and other best management practices. This infiltration will lead to 740 million gallons of water being kept from local sewers after implementation of the plan is complete.”
“Capturing the first 0.5 inch of rainfall in green infrastructure is an essential and cost-effective component to complete the vision of zero basement backups, zero overflows, and improved water quality across Milwaukee and beyond by 2035. The Plan focuses on strategies that would treat impervious surfaces and turf grass areas to provide economic, social, and environmental benefits to the region.”
“Together, MMSD, local schools, businesses, non-profits and government agencies can work together to implement projects over the coming decades; and we have the opportunity to transform how infrastructure is viewed nationwide.”
To Learn More:
To download a copy of the Regional Green Infrastructure Plan, click here (PDF / 34MB).
