This document summarizes a project to install residential stormwater best management practices (BMPs) in the Kinnickinnic River watershed in Milwaukee to improve water quality. The project aims to educate local residents, install BMPs like rain gardens on private properties, and monitor the impact on stormwater runoff. It outlines engaging the community, designing and building the BMPs with local involvement, and replicating the project in other neighborhoods. Preliminary results found BMPs installed in the first target area with monitoring ongoing to quantify the water quality benefits.

1. Residential Stormwater BMP’s in
the Kinnickinnic Watershed:
Part of a Long View towards Water Resources on
Milwaukee’s South Side
Ben Gramling
Sixteenth Street Community Health Center
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
April 30, 2012

2. The Kinnickinnic River Watershed:

5. Local Project Context:
• Implement Recommendations of the
Kinnickinnic River Corridor
Neighborhood Plan
– Flood Management along the KK
– Leverage Additional Community
Investment (Housing, Parks & Open Space,
Infrastructure, Educational Programming,
Stormwater Management)
• Consistent with Findings of the KK
Watershed Restoration Plan

7. KK River Corridor Neighborhood Plan

8. Project Summary:
• Test out a project approach
– Bring stormwater outreach and education
to an underserved population
– Cluster Best Management Practices in a
residential setting – maximize local
participation
– Monitor to quantify the impact
• Expand the reach through replication

9. Project Approach:
1. Select Target Area
• Neighborhood and property
characteristics
• Stormwater conveyance & treatment
characteristics
• Ability to recruit participants

11. Project Approach:
1. Engage, Educate and
Recruit Participants
• Bilingual introductory
materials
• Door to door
canvassing, phone
calls, 1-on-1 and
group meetings
• Demonstrate what we
are talking about

12. Instalaciones ecológicas (BMPs)

13. Project Approach:
1. Plan, Design & Build BMP’s
• Respond to property owners’ interests
and limitations & property characteristics
• Recognize ongoing maintenance
requirements
• Execute a partnership agreement
• Involve owners and their neighbors in the
construction

14. Acuerdo de Colaboración y de Mantenimiento
Partnership and Maintenance Agreement
DUEÑO DE CASA ~ HOME OWNER
• Estar presente durante las visitas a su casa
• Dar opinión sobre el diseño de la instalación
3. Mantener el área de implementación sin obstáculos (muebles,
carros, mascotas)
4. Dar acceso a la propiedad (durante implementación y monitoreo)
5. Dar permiso para poner un letrero sobre el proyecto
6. Mantener la instalación (regar, desmalezar, etc. los jardines de
lluvia o jardines en zanja. Vaciar y guardar los barriles de lluvia
durante el invierno)
7. Tomar responsabilidad por cualquier gasto financiero asociado
con jardinería (trabajo en el patio) separado de este proyecto.
¿ESTÁ DE ACUERDO?

15. Acuerdo de Colaboración y de Mantenimiento
Partnership and Maintenance Agreement
ORGANIZACIONES ASOCIADAS~PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
1. Efectuar la implementación de instalaciones ecológicas dentro de un
plazo (periodo de tiempo) acordado con los dueños de las propiedades
participantes.
3. Ofrecer orientación y proporcionar materiales de información sobre el
mantenimiento adecuado de las instalaciones ecológicas.
3. Proporcionar documentación de renuncia a derechos de compensación
para proteger a los dueños de propiedades ante cualquier accidente
del personal/equipo de construcción dentro de la propiedad.

16. Project Approach:
1. Monitor for Impact
• Determine drainage areas at the outset
• Verify on-the-ground conditions
• Craft monitoring plan for
upstream/downstream comparison (in
the pipe) and pre/post construction

17. Project Results:
“Pilot” Target Area – S. 15th

18. Project Results:
Replicated Target Areas –
S. 14th and 16th Streets
• Recruitment Fall
2011
• Initial Installations
Fall 2011
• Ongoing
Installations &
Recruitment 2012
• Monitoring 2012-13

19. Next Up:
Lyons Park Creek Subwatershed

20. Other Efforts: Pocket Park

21. Other Efforts: Environmental Education

23. Final Acknowledgements:
• Project Partners
– Groundwork Milwaukee
– Milwaukee Riverkeeper
– Sixteenth Street Community Health Center
– Southeastern WI Watersheds Trust, Inc.
• Key Funders
– Fund for Lake Michigan
– Joyce Foundation
– WI Coastal Management Program