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Water Quality Monitoring Program
With one of the State of Wisconsin’s most comprehensive water quality data bases for Lake Michigan and its rivers, MMSD continues to test, monitor and document area waterways to:
- Provide early warning detection of wastewater and industrial pollution, as well as, illegal dumping.
- Assess the benefits and impacts to area waterways from the investment of billions of dollars in wastewater treatment, storage and sewer system improvements.
- Help MMSD and area leaders decide what else is needed to cost effectively protect area rivers and Lake Michigan.
MMSD’s surface water quality monitoring program started in 1979. Continued tracking of water quality, along with improvements to the District’s wastewater treatment system and stream restoration activities, will help ensure a healthy aquatic environment and will help retain the beneficial uses of Lake Michigan and Milwaukee-area waterways to the public.
To monitor area waterways, District staff conduct numerous surveys throughout the year.
Survey descriptions and maps are included below.
Lake Michigan Surveys
Outer Harbor Survey
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This survey monitors the impact that the Jones Island Wastewater Treatment Plant may have on the harbor and nearshore area of Lake Michigan. It also shows the effects of the confluence of the Milwaukee, Menomonee, and Kinnickinnic rivers’ discharge into Lake Michigan. Current movements and water exchange within the harbor can be documented through the tracking of water quality parameters.
South Shore Survey
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Monitors the impact that the South Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant may have on Lake Michigan. Effluent dispersion and dilution with lake water is evaluated to help identify treatment or other environmental issues.
Nearshore Survey
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Monitors a 350-square-mile area of Lake Michigan. It provides information on lake background levels of various compounds and/or pollutants that are used in developing the District’s water quality based effluent limitations and permit discharge fees.
River and Creek Surveys
Major River Survey (Milwaukee, Menomonee, Kinnickinnic)
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These 3 rivers are monitored biweekly and fecal coliform, E. coli, and dissolved oxygen data for the current year at select river sites can be found in the following report:
Coliform and Oxygen Data
Monitors sites along these three rivers within the MMSD service area in order to identify potential sources of pollution both within and outside of the District’s boundaries. This survey helps document the benefits of MMSD infrastructure and wastewater operations, ongoing watercourse improvement projects, nonpoint pollution prevention programs, and stormwater management plans.
In addition to monitoring the major rivers biweekly, this survey is also used to assess impacts of combined sewer
overflows (CSO) and is stipulated in the District’s Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) permit.
Monitoring during CSO events is fundamentally similar to the existing water quality program with the addition of
polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH’s) and mercury analyses. This survey is done four times per year under the
following conditions: 1) in the event of an actual CSO (2 surveys if multiple occurences); 2) when rainfall equals a
minimum of 0.25” basin-wide and there is no CSO; and 3) when there has been no rain for at least seven days with no
CSO.
Oak Creek Survey
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Monitors water quality in this creek and the potential effect of its discharge to Lake Michigan in direct proximity to the South Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant. Data from this survey will also be used to document the impacts of the District’s watercourse improvement project on this creek, which are expected to be beneficial.
Lincoln Creek, Root River, and Southbranch Creek Surveys
Lincoln Creek map
Root River map
Southbranch Creek map
The Lincoln Creek survey was initiated in 1997 in order to monitor water quality before, during, and after the District’s watercourse improvement projects. These sites will be monitored for up to five years following the completion of all the various projects in order to document the water quality impacts derived from stream improvements.
The Southbranch Creek survey was initiated in 1999, as was the sampling of Root River. Various flood control improvement projects were completed on Southbranch Creek at the end of 2001. Water quality monitoring will continue on Southbranch Creek through at least 2006 to document any water quality changes. Watercourse improvement projects have not yet begun on Root River. Presently, baseline water quality data are being collected on this river.
Fish Creek and Indian Creek Surveys
Fish Creek map
Indian Creek map
Major precipitation events result in rapid surface runoff to these creeks causing flood conditions for communities bordering these watercourses. The District, in partnership with these communities, is formulating flood management plans for these creeks. A District sampling program began in 2002 to assist in determining anticipated water quality benefits. Baseline data will be compared to water quality data gathered after the projects are completed.
Honey Creek and Underwood Creek Surveys
Honey Creek map
Underwood Creek map
The Honey Creek subwatershed has experienced minor flooding problems, but the biggest problem with this Creek has been the ecological degradation and habitat loss due to channel modifications. Honey Creek originates at the S. 43rd Street storm sewer outfall in the City of Greenfield and flows in a northerly direction for approximately 8.8 miles until its confluence with the Menomonee River in the City of Wauwatosa. The Honey Creek subwatershed encompasses 11 square miles and includes portions of the communities of Greenfield, Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, and West Allis.
Flooding problems have also occurred in the Underwood Creek subwatershed.
Underwood Creek originates in the City of Brookfield and flows approximately 8 miles, in a southeasterly direction, to its confluence with the Menomonee River. The Underwood Creek subwatershed encompasses approximately 19.8 square miles and includes portions of the communities of Brookfield, Elm Grove and Wauwatosa. Honey and Underwood Creeks were added to the MMSD sampling program in 2003. Baseline monitoring data is being collected to assist with future flood management planning efforts for both of these creeks.
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