Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern

The Milwaukee Estuary was designated an AOC in 1987 because of historical discharges that contributed toxic contaminants to the AOC and Lake Michigan. Contaminated sediments and habitat alteration contributed to most of the beneficial use impairments within the AOC. Excavation work as part of the Legacy Act is expected to be completed in 2015 with habitat restoration extending through 2017.

About
Milwaukee Estuary AOC

Kinnickinnic River looking upstream toward Paul Davis Property

Restoring
Milwaukee Estuary AOC

Riverwalk development facing downstream

Latest News

Phase II of the Lincoln Creek and Milwaukee River Great Lakes Legacy Act project is currently underway, which will remove approximately 30,000 cubic yards of PCB- and PAH-contaminated sediment. It will be followed by shoreline habitat restoration. The excavation work is expected to be completed in 2015 with habitat restoration extending through 2017. The completion of these projects, paired with the 2009 Kinnickinnic River Legacy Act project, are major steps towards delisting the Milwaukee Estuary AOC.

Read more in the December 2014 Remedial Action Plan Update for the Milwaukee Estuary of Concern (PDF) (63 pp, 2.1 MB, About PDF) Exit

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