Conservation Security Program 2008 Watershed Inforamtion
 

Milwaukee River Watershed Background Information

Introduction

The Milwaukee River Watershed is located in southeast Wisconsin and outlets directly to Lake Michigan. Agriculture is not as prevalent here as in other areas of southern Wisconsin but still accounts for 45.1% of the of the 553,547 acre watershed. There is a mix of cash grain and livestock farms. Corn, soybeans and alfalfa are the dominant crops while dairy cattle are the most common livestock. Approximately 1.3 million people reside in the watershed, the vast majority of those people in the southern portion of the watershed, in the city of Milwaukee and its suburbs. Development pressure is very high.

Physical Description
The eastern portion of the watershed is a gently sloping till plain with moderately well drained to somewhat poorly drained loamy and clayey soils, and poorly drained organic soils in the depressions. The Lake Michigan shoreline and significant wetland complexes are also noteworthy.

The western portion of the watershed is a nearly level to strongly sloping till plain with prominent drumlins. Well drained silty and loamy soils are present with poorly drained organic soils in the depressions.

Overall the watershed is 12% wetlands by area, contains 57 lakes and approximately 500 miles of perennial streams.

Resource Concerns
Primary resource concerns are cropland and construction site erosion, stormwater management, nutrient management, surface water and ground water quality, and wetland habitat management and restoration.

Ten percent of the watershed’s stream miles are on the Environmental Protection Agency’s 303(d) impaired waters list. The most common impairments are nonpoint and point source pollution impacts as well as contaminated sediment. Over 900,000 people get their drinking water from Lake Michigan. A 1993 outbreak of cryptosporidium in the public water system sickened over 400,000 people.


Other Watershed Projects, Studies, Monitoring
Numerous Wisconsin Priority Watershed projects were carried out over the past two decades in the watershed to provide cost-sharing for the implementation of best-management practices. The projects included the Kinnickinnic River, Cedar Creek, the Menomonee River, and the North, South, East and West Branches of the Milwaukee River.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) conducts ongoing water quality monitoring in the watershed each year. In addition, the Milwaukee River Basin Partnership is a large contingent of organizations working to educate stakeholders and improve many aspects of the watershed, including nonpoint source pollution from agriculture.

The North Branch Milwaukee River Wildlife and Farming Heritage Area is a WDNR designated project area targeted for restoring wetlands and preserving farmland. Partnership efforts are underway with landowners and NRCS through the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) and Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program.

Census and Social Data
There are 1538 farms in the watershed that average 162 acres in size. The 2002 average gross farm income in the agricultural counties of the watershed was $88,274, about 17.5% above the state average.
 

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