MMSD 2019 Resilience Plan - A Blueprint for the Future

08/17/19 02:19:pm

Urban areas depend on critical infrastructure systems (power, drinking water, wastewater, and communications) functioning properly. Those systems are dependent on each other and are equally vulnerable to changing urban conditions such as fluctuations in temperature and rainfall, varying land use conditions, population influxes, and poverty rates. Therefore, the risks herein are addressed and understood as they relate and correlate to other components of the built, natural and social environments. Oftentimes, a disturbance within one area of infrastructure will result in an impact or disruption in other areas. Increasing demand for natural resources, infrastructure, and public services challenges cities’ sustainable development and economies. Smarter planning, development, and management of infrastructure and public services for our cities will be an absolute necessity. The American Society of Civil Engineers cites the lack of investment in infrastructure as an impediment for Wisconsin to compete in an increasingly global marketplace. Wisconsin needs to invest $1 billion in drinking water infrastructure and $6.33 billion in wastewater infrastructure over the next 20 years.

Read how the Milwaukee metropolitan area can address these complex threats for a stronger, more resilient region in the MMSD 2019 RESILIENCE PLAN.

panoramic view of boats in the harbor in Milwaukee

Letter from MMSD Commission Chair

Kris Martinsek

Our Resilience Plan is a testament to our love for the Great Lakes and the region that surrounds the great City of Milwaukee. The plan accentuates the region’s rich history of using the bounties of Lake Michigan to enhance the livelihood and well-being of its people. Hard-working people have worked tirelessly to make the Milwaukee region the beautiful place it is today, and that collaborative spirit will be key to the success of this plan moving forward.

"Our Resilience Plan is a testament to our love for the Great Lakes and the region that surrounds the great City of Milwaukee. The plan accentuates the region’s rich history of using the bounties of Lake Michigan to enhance the livelihood and well-being of its people."

A healthy environment, strong schools, robust economy, and collaborative governments are the foundational elements of this Resilience Plan. The Plan builds from these strengths, identifies the emerging challenges, and charts a path to our future. This future path was built from the ground up around three visions:

Vision 1

Make the Milwaukee Region a better place to live by improving the public's participation in decision making and their environment.

Vision 2

Boost the region's economic vitality through innovative job creation and access to equal opportunities.

Vision 3

Adapt infrastructure to the challenges of the 21st century.

The action steps found in each of these visions will be implemented by many partners over many years, and MMSD is excited to collaborate to do its part. Providing sustainable, livable employment is one of the great challenges identified in the Resilience Plan. As the Chairwoman of the MMSD Commission, I look forward to MMSD providing leadership associated with addressing the effects of climate change and connecting the under-employed with jobs that will be created through the innovation of our 21st-century infrastructure. The Milwaukee region is on an upward trajectory. Working collaboratively as a region to realize these visions will take us to a more sustainable, resilient future. I hope we can all take part in this experience and move onward.

Sincerely,

Kris Martinsek

Learn More About MMSD's Sustainability Initiatives

Fresh Coast Guardians Resource Center

Managing water where it falls is something you can do to help protect our rivers and Lake Michigan. We have an aggressive goal to create enough green infrastructure to capture 740 million gallons of water every time it rains.

MMSD Sustainability Plan

Sustainability is a rich part of the MMSD history, integral to present-day operations, and critical to
our future. Focused initially on water reclamation and resource recovery, our mission is evolving over time to encompass many overlapping facets of environmental and public health.

Milorganite®

The production of Milorganite® is one of the nation’s oldest and world’s largest recycling efforts. We've safely recycled the nutrient-rich microbes from our wastewater treatment process into a goof-proof fertilizer that works wonders for lawns, gardens, flowers trees and shrubs.