Milwaukee Riverkeeper

MILWAUKEE RIVERKEEPER WILL RESTORE AN IMPORTANT COLDWATER FISHERY BY REMOVING THE MILL POND DAM ON NICHOLS CREEK. NICHOLS CREEK IS A 4.32 MILE HEADWATER REACH OF THE NORTH BRANCH OF THE MILWAUKEE RIVER, IN THE VILLAGE OF CASCADE, SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, WISCONSIN. THIS PROJECT WILL RESTORE APPROXIMATELY 1,200 LINEAR FEET OF STREAM, REMOVE AN AQUATIC BARRIER TO FISH PASSAGE, IMPROVE WATER QUALITY, AND RECONNECT COLDWATER ECOSYSTEMS THAT HAVE BEEN FRAGMENTED FOR OVER 100 YEARS. THIS PROJECT ALSO ADDRESSES SEVERAL PRIORITY ISSUES AND CRITICAL CHALLENGES TO LAKE MICHIGAN TRIBUTARIES, WETLANDS, AND RIPARIAN ECOSYSTEMS DETAILED IN SEVERAL GREAT LAKES PLANS, SUCH AS LOSS OF HABITAT AND DEGRADED WATER QUALITY.DELIVERABLES:1. FINAL DESIGN PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR DAM REMOVAL AND STREAM RESTORATION, INCLUDING ENGINEERING DRAWINGS, AND DETAILED SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION, EROSION CONTROL, AND RESTORATION.2. ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION PLAN FOR RIPARIAN AND UPLAND NATURAL COMMUNITIES, WHICH WILL INCLUDE NATIVE SEED MIXES, NATIVE SHRUB AND TREE SPECIES FOR PLANTING.3. APPROVED STATE, FEDERAL, AND LOCAL PERMITS.4. BID DOCUMENTS FOR CONSTRUCTION.5. CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION REPORTS, INCLUDING WEEKLY REPORTS DOCUMENTING OBSERVED CONDITIONS, PROGRESS, AND AREAS OF CONCERN AND PROPOSED REMEDIES.6. WATER QUALITY AND FISHERY MONITORING DATA7. EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH MATERIALS DESCRIBING THE RESTORATION, INCLUDING NEWS ARTICLES DISTRIBUTED THROUGH LOCAL NEWS OUTLETS AND REGIONALLY VIA NON-PROFIT PARTNERS NEWSLETTERS AND WEBSITES, AND PRESENTATIONS AT SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCES.8. PICTURES AND VIDEOS OF THE WORK FOR SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER COMMUNICATION PURPOSES.