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Milwaukee Stormwater Tree Project

What are Stormwater Trees?

Stormwater trees can hold rainwater on their leaves and branches, infiltrate it into the ground, absorb it through root systems and evapotranspire it to the atmosphere. They can be used in conjunction with engineered soils and other types of green infrastructure and work best when they’re mature (and so are not a quick fix to storm water issues).

Project Overview

With our climate changing, Wisconsin can expect more intense rain, bigger storms, and changes in temperature. Stormwater trees are part of MMSD’s green infrastructure solutions to managing rainwater and improving water quality in our urban waterways. We hope to increase community resilience through improved tree canopies. Trees soak up rainwater before it enters our pipes and rivers and lets the rain soak into the ground naturally. Trees also absorb the gases that are making climate change happen.

We will work with residents to plant over 300 trees in this neighborhood of Milwaukee. These trees can soak up over 18,500 gallons of water in any storm. That’s enough to fill two swimming pools! These trees will also help clean our air by removing 2.75 million pounds of carbon dioxide (the gas that causes climate change). As part of this project, residents in the project area will go on tree exploration hikes in Havenwoods State Forest, have input into what types of trees should be planted and where, and can get a rain barrel or small tree for their homes.