$1.15 Million in Federal Funding Allocated for Wisconsin Environmental Projects
Senator Herb Kohl and Congresswoman Gwen Moore announced that they have secured $1.15 million in federal funding in the Interior Appropriations bill (H.R. 2361) for Wisconsin's Fourth Congressional District. A portion of the funds received will be dedicated to the repair of the Central Metropolitan Interceptor System (MIS). Additional funds will be dedicated to the Milwaukee Stormwater Trees and Greening Milwaukee Schools project.
"I am pleased to have worked with Congresswoman Moore in securing federal funds for these important projects," said Sen. Kohl. "Maintaining clean and safe drinking water is essential for all. Urban forestry programs have been used with great success in other communities, and I'm pleased that the City of Milwaukee will benefit from this funding."
"The aim of these projects is really about keeping Milwaukee's water supply clean and untainted," said Congresswoman Moore. "Timely repair of Central MIS is crucial to the safety of the region's water supply, and funding the cost of this scheduled rehabilitation and reconstruction project will save Milwaukee millions of dollars in emergency repairs in the future. Similarly, the planting of thousands of trees will not only add to Milwaukee's beauty, but it will increase the quality of water."
A total of $800,000 in federal funding from the State and Tribal Assistance Grants account will go toward repairs of the Central Metropolitan Interceptor System (MIS). The funding will allow the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) to continue to repair and replace Milwaukee's hundred-year old sewer system, much of which was made of wood, and through which over sixty percent of the MMSD wastewater flow is conveyed.
This funding is crucial, as these sewers are in a constant state of surcharge and are in desperate need of immediate repair. In the event of a sewer collapse, the potential exists for the entire contents of the collapsed sewer to be discharged into area water sources for an extended period of time. This would have a disastrous effect on Milwaukee's water quality. The funding will help avoid sewer failures and associated economic disruptions and environmental damage.
An additional $350,000 in Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry funds will be dedicated to the Milwaukee Stormwater Trees and Greening Milwaukee Schools project. This project will allow three organizations to work collaboratively to plant 3000 trees throughout the Milwaukee area. The City of Milwaukee's Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, one of the participants, is responsible for the safety, cleanliness, and attractiveness of Milwaukee neighborhoods. This duty includes managing the city's urban forest of 200,000 trees and beautification of 120 miles of streets. The MMSD, another participant, protects the water quality of the Milwaukee watersheds and Lake Michigan.
The requested funds would allow the Department of Public Works and MMSD to select two areas to plant 2000 additional trees. Neighborhoods will be selected based on their surface area potential for runoff as well as the quality of their existing tree canopy. An additional 1000 trees will be planted at Milwaukee public schools by Greening Milwaukee Schools, an initiative that was first implemented in 1999 to improve local school grounds and to improve water quality in the watershed by reducing runoff. In its first year, this program replaced asphalt with trees and turf at Congress Elementary School, which resulted in a reduction of peak stormwater flow by 63 percent.
H.R. 2361, the FY2006 Interior Appropriations bill, passed the House yesterday and passed the Senate today before going to the President's desk for his signature.
Source: The Democratic Party of Wisconsin