MMSD Blue Notes graphic by Executive Director Kevin Shafer

The Work Ahead: Protecting Our Region from Future Floods

04/01/26 11:00:am

August 2025 will forever be burned in the memories of Milwaukeeans. Storms on August 9th and 10th caused more than $200 million in damage to private property. Streets flooded, and homes and businesses were damaged. The proof of this was evidenced by the piles of water heaters, furnaces, carpeting, and family heirlooms sent to the curb. Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) and municipal crews worked around the clock to address the flooding issues.

Thank you, everyone!

Flooding in the Milwaukee region during the August 2025 storms

At one location, a rainfall gauge registered close to 15 inches of rain, much more than any prediction and much more than any system could handle. As a result, the deep tunnel was filled to its maximum, and MMSD had to shut the inflow gates to the tunnel because it could not hold any more water.

At that same time, MMSD’s two water reclamation facilities operated at or above their capacity for many hours following the storm. There was water everywhere.

While it is hard to imagine that it could have been worse, it could have been. We are fortunate that the Milwaukee region has been investing in flood management for over 30 years.

Since 1995, flood management improvement projects have protected 2,548 homes and businesses. Locations where flood management improvements have already been completed have seen less flood damage. This is a clear indication that we need to continue.

The region still has 1,405 buildings in the floodplain. My concern is that we will be content to chalk this storm up as one that we won’t see for another 1,000 years. We can’t do that. Just like we are living through 100-year storms every 10 years, this large storm will come again sooner than we would like.

Last fall, I wrote the 2035 Vision Forward, which builds on the original MMSD 2035 Vision. Vision Forward is not a call to wait and see: it is a call to action, now, outlining how we will accelerate flood management, strengthen infrastructure, and work with communities to make neighborhoods and rivers more resilient. Under this Vision Forward, MMSD is accelerating the remaining flood management projects.

MMSD moved these flood management projects to the top priority, accelerating $96 million of flood management projects in the MMSD 2026–2035 capital improvement plan.

MMSD's planned flood management basins and residents that reported water in their basement after the August 2025 storms

The above graphic shows the planned MMSD flood management basin locations, and purple dots indicate reports to MMSD of water in homes and businesses during the August 2025 storms.

Key MMSD Projects Being Accelerated

West Basin Stormwater Management: Designed to hold 31 million gallons and reduce flooding up to a 100-year storm, this project will now start construction in 2027, two years ahead of the 2029 schedule in the most recent budget.

Jackson Park & Kinnickinnic River Project: Will increase the park’s storage from 30 million gallons to 80 million gallons, helping keep stormwater away from nearby homes. Construction is now scheduled to begin in 2027, four years earlier than planned in the most recent budget.

Wilson Park Flood Storage: Following the August floods, MMSD met with County Parks leadership, and both agreed this needed to be a priority. In December 2025, an agreement was reached with the respective governing bodies to move the project forward. Following discussions with County Parks, construction is now prioritized to start in 2031, four years earlier than the original 2035 schedule. The project will hold approximately 70 million gallons and provide critical protection for nearby neighborhoods.

Wilson Park Creek Reach 3: Significant progress has already been made, with about one-third of the work remaining to complete the basin, connect the river, and rebuild the 5th & 6th Street bridges. Final construction is planned for 2031–2032.

These four project areas will add 220 million gallons of flood storage along our rivers, keeping that water out of basements. When complete, this will not stop all flooding, but it will help.

My hope is that the August 2025 storms remain a distant memory, one that stays in our rearview mirror while we focus on the path forward. Each of us can help. Make green infrastructure improvements, such as rain barrels and rain gardens, that help manage that first drop. Because, as we all know, Every Drop Counts!

Kevin L. Shafer Signature

Kevin L. Shafer, P.E.
Executive Director - Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District

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What Happened During the August 2025 Storms?

The August 2025 storms brought record rainfall to the Milwaukee area, flooding streets, homes, businesses, and rivers across the region. Many residents faced significant challenges cleaning up and are still recovering after the storms. MMSD crews worked around the clock to monitor the system and address flooding impacts to our infrastructure.