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trees and grassy wetland Hoy Property

Reforestation and Wetland Restoration

Why Reforestation and Wetland Restoration?

We are all connected by the water in our watershed. Nature-based solutions such as large-scale reforestation and wetland restoration projects improve the land’s natural capacity to absorb and manage increases in precipitation to reduce flooding, sewer overflows, and basement back-ups while creating economic, social, and environmental benefits now and into the future.

Program Overview

Through the Reforestation & Wetland Restoration Program, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) is working with public and private landowners to plant six million trees and restore or enhance 4,000 acres of wetlands in the Greater Milwaukee Watersheds. These large-scale natural flood management strategies work to mimic the natural water cycle to reduce flooding, basement back-ups, and sewer overflows to improve human and ecological health.

Program Qualifications

  • Public or private property
  • Located within the project area (see map)
  • Willingness and ability to enter into a conservation easement
  • Ability to maintain

Preferred Qualifications/Priority Projects

  • High number of trees to be planted
  • One or more acres of wetland to be enhanced or restored
  • Land adjacent or connected to ecological corridors
  • Located in a socially vulnerable area (urban areas only)
  • Shovel-ready or a low -level of land preparation
  • Willingness to cost share and collaborate

The Program Offers Assistance With:

  • Developing tree planting and wetland restoration plans
  • Implementing tree planting and/or wetland restoration

Project Map

Search your project address above to check if it's within the program boundary.

How to Apply:

Please complete this form to express your interest. Note that it isn’t a funding request or a guarantee for program acceptance. Email the completed form to jferschinger@mmsd.com. Our team will review and follow up to discuss your project further.

How the Program Works:

Private landowners:

The landowner submits a project application that is reviewed and evaluated by the project team based on the program goals and qualifications listed above. For approved projects, MMSD will work with the landowner to finalize the project scope and timeline and to coordinate the details and steps for implementation that will be paid as a cost share or by MMSD.

Public or Municipal Agencies:

  • City/municipality submits a project application that is reviewed and evaluated by the project team based on the program goals.
  • For approved projects, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) will work with the municipality to finalize the project scope and timeline.
  • City/municipality competitively bids out the project and manages the project.
  • MMSD reimburses the municipality for agreed upon amount.

Partners

This project is made possible through a grant from the USDA Forest Service. In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible State or local Agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information is also available in languages other than English.

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Questions?

Please complete the submission form below, and a team member will be in touch.

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