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Greenseams
Land is the one thing we cannot make more of and MMSD is working hard to preserve what is needed to help prevent future flooding in the region. Greenseams is an innovative flood management program that permanently protects key lands containing water absorbing soils. The program also aims to preserve land along stream corridors that connects the region’s supply of public properties.
By storing and draining water into the ground naturally, Greenseams provides added support and protection for MMSD’s structural flood management projects - infrastructure investments worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Greenseams identifies and purchases undeveloped, privately owned properties in areas that are expected to have major growth in the next 20 years and parcels of open space along streams, shorelines and wetlands. Sales are completely voluntary.
MMSD hired The Conservation Fund (TCF) to run Greenseams. TCF is a national non-profit conservation organization that forges partnerships to protect America’s legacy of land and water resources. TCF performs high volume real estate transactions for local land trusts and government agencies throughout the country.
 Black-eyed Susans on Hanson property |
All land acquired will remain as open space, protecting water and providing the ability to naturally store rain and melting snow in critical areas. Wetlands maintenance and restoration at these sites will provide further water storage.
In addition, preserving the properties also saves wildlife habitat and creates recreational opportunities for people living in the region. Where applicable, the properties can be used by the public for hiking trails, bird watching, and other passive recreation.
Partnerships
One of the great benefits of Greenseams is the formation of key partnerships throughout the Milwaukee region. Each property acquired will be owned and managed by a local community or land trust and subject to a conservation easement held by MMSD. Conservation easements ensure that the land remains open space forever.
A number of grant programs are used to leverage MMSD funds for Greenseams. In 2004,
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Wildlife program
contributed $7,900 and in-kind services towards restoration of three Greenseams
properties. Also, MMSD and 5 other partners secured a North American Wetlands
Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant, which provided Greenseams $130,000 to use for land
purchases in 2005. In addition, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Stewardship Program and the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program have recently
contributed $575,417 and $147,400 respectively to help fund the purchase of
Greenseams properties.
Spreading the word about the program
The Greenseams program is a unique approach to flood management and is touted as model land use technique at various forums, conferences and in other municipalities.
Recent publicity has included:
Wisconsin Chapter of American Planning Association Annual Conference
University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee
Land Trust Alliance
City of Ann Arbor
Civil Engineering News
Izaak Walton League
National Association of Counties
Wisconsin Association of Floodplain Managers
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