Learn about the different phases of restoration projects.
The projects fall into three categories:
Find the current status of each project below. You can find out more about each project on our project map.
Cleaned-up Waterways
Restored Ecosystems
- Burnham Canal Wetland Restoration – Phase II
- County Grounds Wildlife Enhancements
- Kletzsch Park Wildlife Enhancements
- Kohl Park Wildlife Enhancements
- Menomonee River Parkway Section 5 & 6
- North Avenue Fish Passage
Swimmable Beaches
Cleaned-up Waterways
Restored Ecosystems
- Grand Trunk Wetland Restoration
- Havenwoods State Forest
- Lincoln Park Oxbow Habitat Enhancements
- Little Menomonee River Parkway Habitat Enhancements
- Milwaukee River Greenway
- Outer Harbor Aquatic Enhancements (Summerfest Lagoon)
Swimmable Beaches
Cleaned Up Waterways
Restored Ecosystems
Swimmable Beaches
Cleaned-up Waterways
- Basin H PCB Source Control
- Third Ward Cleanup
- Solvay Car Ferry Slip Cleanup
- South Marina Drive Sewer PCB Cleanout
Restored Ecosystems
Swimmable Beaches
For more detail and project timeline estimates download our full project process timeline.
Estabrook Falls Fish Passage
Estabrook Falls Fish Passage Construction Update Exciting changes are coming to the Milwaukee River! Construction on the Estabrook Falls Fish Passage Project is beginning. This …
Cleaning Our Waterways – Sediment Removal
Great Lakes Legacy Act Contaminated Sediment Project Sediment Removal Overview: Over 12 miles of the Milwaukee, Menomonee, and Kinnickinnic rivers will be cleaned up to …
Menomonee River Parkway Sections 5 & 6
Within Milwaukee County is the 597-acre Menomonee River Parkway, and this parkway contains two sections chosen as an Area of Concern project – Sections 5 …
Dredged Material Management Facility (DMMF)
Project Update September 2025: In September, we reached a big milestone on the Dredged Material Management Facility (DMMF) — the final wall is now in …
Solvay Car Ferry Slip
Solvay Car Ferry Slip We Energies is partnering with local, state and federal agencies to clean up portions of the Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern. …
North Avenue Fish Passage
North Avenue Fish Passage Fish and other aquatic species need to be able to swim upriver to access food sources, reproduce, and establish healthy, stable …
Little Menomonee River Parkway
The six-mile section of Little Menomonee River managed by Milwaukee County Parks, known as the Little Menomonee River Parkway, contains a special collection of natural …
Kohl Park Wildlife Enhancements
Kohl Park is a 266-acre property located on the far northern edge of Milwaukee County that provides an opportunity to improve habitat for wildlife populations …
Burnham Canal Wetland Restoration
For thousands of years, the 1200-acre Menomonee River Valley was a wild rice marsh, home to Native Americans. By the mid-1800s, the settlement of Milwaukee …
Lincoln Park Oxbow Update
Take a Look: Check out a new video that shares an update on the Lincoln Park Oxbow Aquatic Habitat Enhancement Project. In the video, you can learn about the history of the Milwaukee River in Lincoln Park, see a map of what we are planning, and hear how community feedback shaped the design. This project will improve habitat by adding more wetland areas for fish, creating better spaces for turtles to rest and lay eggs, making the water deeper in some areas, and removing rocks along the riverbanks where we can.
South Marina Drive PCB Cleanup
South Marina Drive PCB Cleanup The City completed a sediment assessment at 1950 South Marina Drive in the Grand Trunk Slip (aka Skipper Buds Slip) …
Third Ward Milwaukee River Cleanup
April 2023 Project Update: Have you seen things popping up along the Milwaukee River downtown? After years of planning, permitting and outreach, We Energies, along …
Eutrophication
The Milwaukee Estuary AOC has historically experienced algal blooms and oxygen depletion due to high levels of nutrients entering the waterways from various sources including …
Basin H Sewers PCB Cleanup
The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) partnered with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to clean sewers located west of the Milwaukee River along …
Restored Ecosystems
Activities such as filling in wetlands, clear cutting forests, and polluting the waterways with sewage and toxic industrial chemicals have harmed fish and wildlife and …
Kletzsch Park Wildlife Enhancements
Kletzsch Park is a very popular recreational spot, whether it be enjoying the Oak Leaf Trail, watching the waterfall or having a picnic! However, the …
Summerfest Lagoon
Outer Harbor (Summerfest Lagoon) EPA GLNPO is partnering with local and state agencies to clean up contaminated sediment and restore habitat within the Summerfest Lagoon …
Lincoln Park Oxbow Habitat Enhancements
Take a Look: Check out a new video that shares an update on the Lincoln Park Oxbow Aquatic Habitat Enhancement Project. In the video, you can learn about the history of the Milwaukee River in Lincoln Park, see a map of what we are planning, and hear how community feedback shaped the design. This project will improve habitat by adding more wetland areas for fish, creating better spaces for turtles to rest and lay eggs, making the water deeper in some areas, and removing rocks along the riverbanks where we can.
Grand Trunk Cleanup & Wetland Restoration
Grand Trunk Cleanup & Wetland Restoration The Grand Trunk wetland is situated on City of Milwaukee property, between E. Stewart Street and E. Bay Street. …
Havenwoods State Forest
Havenwoods State Forest Habitat Restoration Design Feb. 2025 Update This project aims to improve native habitats and expand wetlands through large-scale habitat restoration. Returning the …
Swimmable Beaches
Public health officials use beach advisories and closings to let people know when the water may be unsafe for swimming and in-water recreation. The beaches …
Milwaukee River Floodplains
Recent soil samples from the Milwaukee River floodplains indicate the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and heavy metals such as …
South Shore Beach Rehabilitation Project
September 2025: Substantial completion has been reached. Located in South Shore Park, in the Bay View neighborhood of Milwaukee, South Shore Beach is beloved by the …
Milwaukee River Greenway
Restoring unique habitat and enhancing diversity along one of Milwaukee’s most vital ecological and recreational corridors. The landscape that surrounds the Milwaukee River, known as …
County Ground Wildlife Enhancements
Under one collective project, County Grounds Park, Menomonee River Parkway (MNR) Section 9, and Hoyt Park make up the “County Grounds Project”, totaling 185+/- acres, …