drone image of western milwaukee river restoration

Western Milwaukee Phase 2B

Project Update

Construction on W. State Street is now complete.  Three new storm sewer lines were built which roughly quadrupled the stormwater capacity beneath State St. Much of the old storm sewer network was built in 1927 and was inadequate to meet FEMA levee area standards.  The road restoration that followed made much-needed repairs to pavement and sidewalks in our project areas in Milwaukee and Wauwatosa.  

Street Summary: 

  • 45,000 additional cubic feet of stormwater capacity in State St.  

  • 75,000 cubic feet of stormwater capacity in the levee-floodwall area  

  • Replaced 36 stormwater inlets and added 41 new ones 

  • 1900 feet of new 16” water main and 12 service line replacements  

  • 600 feet of new sanitary sewer main and 4 replaced sanitary laterals 

  • 110,000 square feet of new pavement and 15,000 square feet of new sidewalk  

Additional benefits of the project include:   

  • Transformed legacy industrial brownfield and flood-prone sites into 8.4 acres of green space 

  • Improved informal hiking trail with 1,350’ of new crushed-stone trail adjacent to the river along Doyne Park. 

Construction continues to complete the levee and floodwall located between the Menomonee River and the railroad.  

Construction of the 1,154-foot-long floodwall will continue through the winter, with completion anticipated in winter 2027. Levee construction is 85% complete and will be finalized when floodwall construction ties into the levee embankment. 

All the above components work together to reduce the risk of flooding.  

Sign Up for Western Milwaukee Phase 2b Updates

This project will extend the earthen levee system 1,800 feet eastward to reduce flooding along State Street, build a new 1,200-foot-long floodwall, install four new storm sewers, and restore 1,500 feet of banks along the Menomonee River.

Project Overview

The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) is partnering with the City of Milwaukee and City of Wauwatosa to make flood risk reduction improvements along the Menomonee River in Western Milwaukee along West State Street between North 60 Street and USH 175.

This project is part of the larger Menomonee River Watercourse Management Plan which aims to reduce the risk of flooding for over 300 homes and businesses. To see the existing floodplain map visit FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center.

The Western Milwaukee Phase 2B Project will:

  • Extend the earthen levee (a compacted soil embankment that holds back floodwaters during heavy rains) 1,900 feet, with a sloped soil embankment up to 8 feet high, to reduce flood risk from the Menomonee River flooding onto State Street during heavy rains from approximately 60th Street and West State Street east to US Highway 175. See bottom of page for example image.
  • Build a 1,200 foot long floodwall (a wall made of concrete that holds back floodwaters during heavy rains) training in a height of 5 to 10 feet on the landward side and up to 20 feet on the river side.
  • Install four new storm sewers totaling 5,100 feet.
  • 1,500 feet of excavation and bank restoration between the north and south banks of the river.
  • Turf and native plantings.

Project Area Photos

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    Widening the river channel below Doyne Park. 

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    MMSD Consultant working on removing material from the river along the south bank.

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    Loading trucks with top 6 feet of material at south bank.

Project Map

To recognize the levee system's flood risk reduction benefits, there will be a levee system accreditation application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the entire Menomonee River levee system (shown in the map above) and a remapping of the floodplain in the surrounding project area following completion of the project and completion of other FEMA-required levee accreditation improvements. FEMA review is expected to take up to three years. There are some structures that will remain in the mapped floodplain after the levee system is completed. These structures remaining in the floodplain will be evaluated for other flood risk reduction approaches, such as voluntary floodproofing and voluntary acquisition.

Project Benefits:

  • Help Reduce Flood Risk
  • Increase Public Safety
  • Improve Riparian (area adjacent to the river) & Aquatic Habitat

Project Timeline:

2017 - 2023 Finalize Design

2023 - Spring 2027 Construction

*Project timeline is subject to change

Project Status:

MMSD is completing construction.

Partner List:

Levee and Floodwall Rendering

rendering of western milwaukee phase 2b

 

Stay Informed

  • Stay tuned to this website and MMSD social media avenues (Instagram, Facebook, X) for upcoming activities.

Project Resources

Comments / Questions

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