Emerging Issues

The Issue:

The ATC transmission co. wants to run an electrical line through this coldwater stream.  It will remove a small fraction of natural land uses from both watersheds, but the cumulative effect of the small impacts to the waterways have not been addressed by the environmental impact statement.

Why It Matters:

• It Affects Healthy Habitats Like Crucial Trout Streams – Nichols Creek is a class 1 trout stream meaning the waterway can support a wild trout population without stocking. There are very few of these coldwater streams in the Milwaukee River Basin.
• It Will Have an Impact on Climate & Coldwater Streams – Trout and other species sensitive to a warming climate are declining in population. It’s critical to protect the remaining streams.

The Issue:

In July 2020, Governor Evers expressed support for a Walker-era policy to add two more lanes to a 3.5 mile stretch of Interstate 94 between 70th and 16th Streets.

Why It Matters:

• It Creates Impermeable Surfaces – The proposed expansion of I-94 would contribute to climate change, pollute our air, and lead to more contaminated runoff in our waterways. With more highway, more water will collect and runoff from the roads carrying harmful pollutants like road salt into adjacent waterways. What’s worse, climate scientists predict more rain and flooding for our region in the coming years.
• It Targets Vulnerable Communities – While no particular race is immune to the environmental damage that would be caused by I-94 expansion, the harm would be concentrated disproportionately among people of color.

Recent Updates:

• In January 2024, MRK & 31 other organizations filed a civil rights complaint on the expansion of I-94 alleging that WISDOT is not complying with Title IV or environmental justice procedures, and that WISDOT is moving forward with an alternative with the knowledge that it will have a discriminatory effect.
• In August 2024, MRK and 3 other plaintiffs filed a lawsuit challenging the the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Wisconsin Department of  Transportation (WisDOT)’s approval of the i-94 expansion on the basis that they  refused to consider a reasonable alternative that would incorporate a public  transportation element and fix safety and operational concerns of the corridor without expanding the  highway. They also allege transportation officials failed to consider or mitigate the disproportionate harm to  the predominantly non-white residents of the project area.

The Issue:

Rob-N-Cin Farms has applied to become a permitted Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO). This factory farm has been operating as a CAFO for at least 2 years without a permit, and plans to grow from 1,470 animal units to 2,500 animal units by 2028.

Why It Matters:

• Groundwater & Surface Water Quality – The concentrated design of CAFOs can pose many challenges, including how to handle animal waste.  If they aren’t properly managed, located, and monitored, CAFOs can cause problems both locally and for the surrounding community including changes in groundwater and surface water quality as well as drinking water supply.
• Drinking Water Contamination –  There are several areas proposed for manure spreading near Trenton, Newburg, and Saukville that have permeable soils, shallow water tables, and shallow/porous bedrock, which make the water aquifer – used by local communities for drinking water – susceptible to contamination from manure and other agricultural chemicals.
• Runoff – Runoff would likely impact additional streams within the Milwaukee River Watershed, most of which are already impaired by phosphorus and bacteria pollution.

The Issue:

Despite operating for 30 years, Shalom Wildlife Zoo did not have a permit to operate from the Town of Farmington prior to March 2024, and the current permit excludes most of the zoo property. Most concerning, there has been little information provided about the proposed expansion, nor about how runoff and manure is managed which increases the risk of harmful practices going unchecked.

The Farmington Town Board is considering amending Shalom Wildlife Zoo’s Conditional Use Permit (CUP), to:

• Additional land parcels (current permit from March only covers 11 of 100 acres);
• Allow construction of a new facility that would allow the expansion of activities including animal education/encounters, seminars, weddings, and corporate/private events.

Why It Matters:

• Limiting Wells & Drinking Water – Zoos typically use quite a bit of water to maintain facilities and care for animals. Excessive withdrawal can reduce streamflow, harm wetlands and affect wells and drinking water supplies. We don’t currently have any information on water usage at Shalom.
• Waterway Contamination – The Wisconsin DNR regulates runoff from animal feeding operations, including zoos, to prevent pollutants from entering waterways. We don’t currently have any information on manure/waste disposal practices

The Issue:

The State of Wisconsin is attempting to create a statewide deicing applicator certification program through WDNR. The program is based on the existing contractor training that Milwaukee Riverkeeper helps provide.

This would require winter maintenance professionals to be certified through the state on best practices.

These bills would provide some liability protection for snow removal professionals that are trained in best practices for protecting public safety and water quality.

Why It Matters:

• It Creates Permanent Pollution – Deicers, like road salt, make our roads safer during the winter, but overapplying salt can pose a very real threat to the health of our rivers and the living things that rely on them.  One teaspoon of salt permanently pollutes 5 gallons of water.
• It Causes Waterway Contamination –  Water runs over the landscape after precipitation and melting events and picks up chemicals and pollutants along the way. Pollutants, like chloride-based deicers, eventually end up in rivers, streams, and lakes and negatively impact water quality, aquatic life, vegetation, soil, pets, wildlife, roads, and vehicles.
• It Negatively Affects the Climate – With ever-changing weather conditions due to climate impacts, chloride is becoming a real threat to clean water. Heavy snows, increases in temperature causing flooding, dry periods lead to excess salt blowing

The Issue:

Municipal residential and commercial ponds and dams played an important role in how we harnessed energy in the 19th century. However, these structures are degrading quickly and generally need aggressive repair and restoration, which is not only costly, but negatively impacts the surrounding riparian wildlife and habitat. A recent example of this is the Cascade mill pond and dam, which are in need of restoration. The Village of Cascade must decide whether to invest additional funds into dredging and infrastructure restoration or to remove the dam and reconnect the river. The pond is currently about ⅔ full with silt carried from the stream. Invasive weeds and algae fill much of the remaining open water. In Summer months, water from the pond raises the temp downstream which negatively affects coldwater species like trout.

After educational sessions led by Milwaukee Riverkeeper, exploration of all alternative solutions, and gathering input from the community. The Village of Cascade voted to remove the dam in 2024.

Additional funding is still needed to complete the removal and restoration.

Why It Matters:

• Dams Are a Burden On Communities – While once serving a valuable function, many dams in Wisconsin have outlived their economic usefulness and have become structurally unsafe, leaving hundreds of communities facing the decision of whether to repair or remove their dams.
• It Negatively Affects the Climate – Removing dams that no longer serve a purpose is critical to reconnecting rivers, allowing fish and wildlife to reach habitats upriver and to minimize flooding and other climate impacts.