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 protect our drinking water, lead to healthier fish and wildlife, and improve recreational opportunities. Years of heavy industrial use have polluted our waterways. Toxic chemicals and heavy metals have sunk to the bottom of our rivers, contaminating the sediment at the bottom. Removing this toxic sludge from the bottom of the river will make our waterways better for humans, wildlife, and the environment now and for future generations.
The cleanup project also includes work in the floodplains within the Greenway along the Milwaukee River. See more information on the Milwaukee River Floodplains.
Current Project Status and Future Cleanup
EPA’s contractor is working on the remedial design for cleanup of contaminated sediment and floodplain reaches for the Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern.
Sediment cleanup work will involve vessels and equipment on the water to remove the contaminated sediment and transportation to a management facility for disposal.
Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) constructed a Dredged Material Management Facility (DMMF) for the placement of contaminated sediments.
Contaminated sediments will be hydraulically dredged and pumped to the DMMF. Material that cannot be feasibly removed will be capped or covered with clean material.
As we get closer to construction, we will provide further updates on river and community impacts.
Focused Feasibility Study Reports
The Focused Feasibility Study Reports below present the Recommended Alternatives which include areas to be dredged, capped and where habitat restoration will be performed.
- – Menomonee & Milwaukee Rivers Final Focused Feasibility Study
- – Kinnickinnic River Project Area Focused Feasibility Study Kinnickinnic Poster
- – Milwaukee Bay Project Area Focused Feasibility Study; Milwaukee Bay Poster
- – Milwaukee River Downtown Reach Focused Feasibility Study; Downtown Poster
- – Milwaukee River Floodplains Focused Feasibility Study
- – South Menomonee Canal Focused Feasibility Study; South Menomonee Canal Poster
Partner Lead: US EPA GLNPO, DNR, City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee County Parks, MMSD, We Energies
Status: Planning and Design
Outcome: Cleaned Up Waterways and Restored Ecosystems
More Information: Sediment Cleanup Factsheet, Sediment Cleanup FAQ’s, Sediment Sampling Factsheet