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Hello Runoff My old Friend

Posted by Jenny Steinman Heyden on Feb. 12, 2009

Lake, lake effect, Lake Michigan Community, runoff, water

This is being posted as a community service to YOU, on behalf of Shorewood's own Conservation Commitee, because you could be later eating a fish that ate the runoff that passed by your feet today.

Did you know that stormwater runoff from Capitol Drive (west of Oakland
Ave) goes directly into the Milwaukee River?  This is the single busiest
stretch of road in all of Shorewood and also has the dirtiest
stormwater.  The water that runs off this section of road during rain
storms and snow melts flows into the storm sewer system that flows
straight into the Milwaukee River, currently unfiltered in any way. This
stormwater carries with it pollutants that have accumulated on the paved
surface such as oils, heavy metals and even bacteria directly into our
river and then into Lake Michigan where we get our drinking water.
People travel from all over the nation to fish the Milwaukee River and
you can often see them from the Capitol Drive bridge right by the
stormwater outfall from this road.

In the summer of 2010, Capitol Drive will be ripped up and repaved from
Lake Drive to the bridge over the Milwaukee River.  The Village of
Shorewood, along with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation,
currently have no plans to protect the Milwaukee River from pollution in
any way.  Our fresh water is one of the most valuable resources we have.
There are many techniques and methods to divert, absorb and filter the
stormwater before it reaches the Milwaukee River.  There are techniques
such as bioswale/ green boxes that are lowered planting areas to take up
excess water, porous concrete to absorb the water on site instead of
letting it run off carrying pollutants, and storm sewer inlet filters
that are actually in the roadway curb 'drains' or "catch basins" to
filter out the contaminants before the water reaches the river.  There
are many things we can do, but we have to act quickly before our road
infrastructure is poorly planned and built for the next 50 years!

Please, write a letter or email your Village Manager, Chris Swartz
<cswartz@villageofshorewood.org>, and the Village Trustees to let them
know that our water quality, Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan matter to
you!  A short note that says we need stormwater pollution protection
from this roadway project for the Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan is
all this takes.

This is a public project with public money and we all need to have
input.  The final designs are being completed as we speak, so an
immediate response is urgent.
Thanks!