Download a copy of the 2019 Milwaukee River Basin Report Card.
Let’s Dive In!
Whether you are a seasoned water advocate or just getting your feet wet, we would like to welcome you to the 10th Annual Milwaukee River Basin Report Card. This report summarizes water quality data collected in 2019 and dives deeper into some of the challenges and successes happening throughout the Milwaukee River Basin.
Before we dive in, we’d like to thank our volunteer water quality monitors and partners. Without their tireless dedication and collaboration achieving our mission would not be possible.
TOP TAKEAWAYS:
- Intense and frequent rainfall, degrading infrastructure, land-use practices and human activities all negatively impacted water quality and it’s reflected in the low bacteria, phosphorus, specific conductivity and turbidity scores in the Basin
- The Basin saw a slight improvement of nearly 1% from 2018 (D) to 2019 (D+)
- Rainfall in 2019, exceeded the record set in 2018, and was the wettest year in recorded history for both Wisconsin and the Midwest
- While still failing to meet water quality standards, phosphorus grades saw some improvement in both the Menomonee and Milwaukee River Watersheds
While it’s easy to be dispirited, it’s important to remember that, like our own health, river health is the result of decades of choices. Despite grades that are lower than we’d like, stormwater projects are being constructed by municipalities and community groups, farmers are working together to improve soil health and reduce runoff in a more coordinated way, and Milwaukee is finally getting federal funds to clean up legacy contamination in the Milwaukee River Estuary Area of Concern.
We are confident that by continuing to work together, we can do even better in the future.