ROOT-PIKE WATERSHED INITIATIVE NETWORK
annual report
2017-18
plan-driven improvements
The place we call home is broken – the Root-Pike basin. Its Lake Michigan rivers are some of the most degraded in Wisconsin.
Uniquely, we’re a faithful network taking the initiative to reduce runoff pollution, sediment and algae issues plaguing our water.
Our 501(c)3 initiative created the first DNR/EPA-approved Nine Key Element Watershed Restoration Plan in Wisconsin.
Today, three Plans drive what we do – working with all partners
and parties, to move restoration projects forward.
Looking at both sides is at the core of who we are and what we do. Here, Craig Helker of the DNR, Marty Melchoir of Inter-fluve, and Bill Sasse of Root-Pike WIN discuss barriers to fish passage.
We stand atop a new organization with newly-energized members and municipalities. Come, be a part of the solution.
PROJECT
#12345
bring awareness to watershed plan recommendations
bring partners and funders together to advance projects
bring resources to plan, design and complete the projects
1
a philosophy of win-win
Forgotten and neglected, we believe our rivers deserve better. At the river’s edge, we hold opportunity in our hands and hearts.
The opportunity is to create places where people want to be
– in how we live, work, play, build and invest.
Clean water is our win-win return – landowners, municipalities,
businesses and our natural partners all working together.
watershed plan
goals
landowner goals
PROJECT
#PR23A
Our vision is to have the Root-Pike basin watersheds thrive amidst breathtaking changes and legacy issues.
We believe there is a willingness from everyone
– from both sides of the aisle – to be a part of the solution.
We are finding this to be true.
Working with Racine County, U.S Fish and Wildlife, and the Fund for Lake Michigan, we restored seven acres of wetland at Pritchard Park. More water quality upgrades are coming including project #PR23A.
Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network 2
project-focused change
We believe the best way to improve the water quality in our rivers and lakes is to treat the illnesses, not the symptoms, with plan-based restoration projects. Here is the progress we have made over the last three years moving projects forward.
We fill a vital role in the Root-Pike basin as the catalyst for bringing watershed plan recommendations from no
awareness to planning to design to completion. We’ve been involved in most of the 168 projects represented below.
RESTORATION PLAN PROJECTS
IN PROGRESS BY WATERSHED
59
72
37
19
22
6
80 80 78
70 70
60 60
50 50
40 40
30 30
20 20
10 10
RESTORATION PLAN PROJECTS IN PROGRESS BY STATUS
41
28
9 9 6
2016
2019
2016
2019
2016
2019
awareness
planning
design
construction
partially complete
complete
0 0
WIND POINT PLAN
ROOT RIVER PLAN
PIKE RIVER PLAN
3
The Pike River Watershed Restoration Plan was leveraged by Kenosha County to restore streambanks and wetlands through Petrifying Springs Park. With the help of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) and the Fund for Lake Michigan, “critical” project #PR11 will restore up
to eight acres of wetland and stabilize 8,800 feet of stream channel.
PROJECT
#PR11
Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network 4
work in progress
PROJECT
#PC04
PROJECT
5
#RWO-01
Working with the City of Racine, Root-Pike WIN is leading the effort to restore this eroding ravine in Colonial Park. Excessive amounts of sediment is overtaking the park’s wetland. Restoration also includes
invasive species removal identified as #RWO-01 in the Root River Plan.
2017 floods exposed the runoff issues defined in the Pike River Plan. With Kenosha County as the lead, Root-Pike WIN helped secure a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ grant to plan, and ulimately restore about
5.5 miles of the South Branch — mirroring the restored North Branch.
after
PROJECT
#URR17
before
Wildcat Creek, at the headwaters of the Root River in the City of Greenfield, suffered from severe streambank erosion and loss of riparian habitat. The City, and their engineering partner Ruekert-Mielke, utilized the Root River Plan’s recommendation (#URR-17) to secure grant funding to complete 350 feet of bank stabilization inside Kulwicki Park.
Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network 6
programs for little ones & leaders
The Respect Our Waters program helps us achieve a key Education and Public Outreach recommendation in our Watershed Restoration Plans. This year our Respect Our Waters program reached more than 218,000 residents in Southeastern Wisconsin. A leaf and yard waste management mailer was sent to 85,000 residents and road salt usage mailer sent to 80,000 residents. We also launched 12 Facebook campaigns reaching 218,000 people with nearly 500 comments on topics like road salt, pet waste and E.coli. Our traditional outreach included 24 events in 15 municipalities to help raise awareness by way of Sparkles, our gregarious water quality mascot.
Part of Respect Our Waters, the SE WI Clean Water Network is made up of 20 municipalities plus the UW-Parkside. The goal of the program is to bring stormwater runoff pollution awareness and best management practices to these stormwater permit holders’ residents. We held four events for our Southeastern Wisconsin Clean Water Network members to educate them
Sparkles the Water Spaniel took a number of selfies this year. Engaging with kids and distributing tip sheets, we teach families about reducing runoff pollution around the home.
on innovative solutions to stormwater issues at the municipal level. Topics covered natural treatment systems, leaf collection programs, watershed plan projects, and Myers Park restoration.
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position | profit and loss | |
July 2017 through June 2018 | July 2017 through June 2018 | |
ASSETS Current Assets Checking/Savings | $187,384 | INCOME General Donations $19,264 Online Donations $650 |
Accounts Receivable | $32,359 | In-Kind Donations $494 |
Other Current Assets | $396 | Corporate/Business Grants $35,000 |
Total Current Assets | $220,139 | Foundation/Trust Grants $145,300 |
Fixed Assets | $1,845 | Federal Grants $5,000 |
Total Assets LIABILITIES & EQUITY | $221,984 | Local Government Grants $117,921 Earned Revenues/Interest $506 Total Income $324,135 |
Liabilities Current Liabilities Accounts Payable | $2,556 | EXPENSES SE WI Clean Water Network & Respect Our Waters $45,267 Watershed Planning & Implementation $30,874 |
Credit Cards | $1,992 | Subcontractor Project Expenses $5,063 |
Other Current Liabilities | $12,000 | Volunteers & Work Days $2,113 |
Total Current Liabilities | $16,549 | Personnel Expenses $113,561 |
Total Liabilities Equity 3010 · Unrestrict (retained earnings) | $16,549 $106,716 | Program & Operational Expenses $16,873 Occupancy Expenses $6,415 Administrative Expenses $4,428 |
Net Income | $98,719 | Depreciation/Amortization $820
|
Total Equity | $205,435 | Total Expenses $225,415 |
TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY | $221,984 | NET INCOME $98,719 |
Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network 8
a new pathway to get invovled
In the fall of 2018, we held our first annual event based on our new membership model. The wave of enthusiastic new faces and old friends engaged once again was inspiring.
The platform provides more ways for members to get involved in hands-on projects, events and relationship building. There is one Board leader for each of these member committees.
the membership committee conducts relationship building
the events committee coordinates public outreach activities
the project committee advances projects in the watershed plans
In 2018, Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network received Racine County’s Community Impact Award for 2018. Left to right: Allison Thielen, Dave Giordano, Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave, Bill Sasse and Jim Small.
As you know, our watersheds are broken. With members engaged in new and diverse ways, we have more opportunities to fix them. Committees are designed to be fun, rewarding
and based on recommendations in our watershed plans.
There is new energy in our membership with meaningful ways
to get engaged in your watersheds. Join us in this unique work!
Country Club to recommit to restoring our broken rivers.
partners in our mission
Dianne Anderson
Rebecca Belmont
Jay Benkowski & Carla Freeman Daniel Bogacz
Darrell Borger Betty Brenneman
Roger & Suzanne Chernik David & Ellen Easley
Bob & Pat Eaton
Brandi Ferree
Roger & Kathleen Field Tim & Lois Fulton
Camille Gendusa Bluestein Mark Giese
Jerry & Susan Greenfield
Sandra Halmo Nancy Hennessy Julie Kinzelman Sandra Kulik Kenneth Kutnyak
Gregory & Gail Larson Michael & Ann Luba Jeffrey Lueck
Cherie Lyford
Ralph & Shirley Mandernack Cory & Roseann Mason
Wendy McCalvy Marilyn McGoldrick Barbara Meyocks Margaret Miller William Moore Emily Papara
Donald & Linda Peterson Randall & Janet Peterson Dale & Barbara Pforr Helen Pugh
David Rhoads & Sandra Roberts
Pete Rohlman
Bill & Linda Sasse James & Judith Schmidt Lisa Scott Ptacek
John & Susan Scripp Gregg & Julieann Sinnen James & Michelle Small Allan & Elizabeth Sommer Mike & Lou Staeck
Linda Stengel & Richard Kinch Joann Sustachek
Jeffrey Sytsma
Barry & Patricia Thomas Alice & Scott Thomson Jozsef & Barbara Vass
Applied Ecological Services, Inc CG Schmidt, Inc
City of Racine City of West Allis
Cordeck Building Solutions
E.C. Styberg Foundation Fund for Lake Michigan Great Lakes Commission
Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Inc. Herbert H Kohl Charities, Inc Millennium Forms
Nielsen Madsen & Barber, SC Osterman Granite and Marble Palmer Foundation
Racine County SC Johnson
Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission Tallgrass Land Conservation, LLC
The Estate of Imogene Powers Johnson Tri-City National Bank
Southeastern Wisconsin Clean Water Network
Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network 10
Root River
New Berlin
Mu
West Allis
Milwaukee
skego
Franklin
Whitnall Park
MILWAUKEE CO.
Greendale
Hales Corner
Greenfield
O C
Oak Creek
Grant Park
directors
Michael Luba - President
staff
Dave Giordano - Executive Director
Root River
Oak Creek
Oak Creek
South Milwaukee
Lake
Department of Natural Resources (ret.)
WAUKESHA CO.
RACINE CO.
Root River
Turtle Creek
ROOT RI ER
Michigan
P
Cliffside Park
Joshua Sopczak - Vice President
Centrust Bank
Jim Small - Treasurer
Maller Peterson, LLC
Allison Thielen - Office Manager
Nan Calvert - Program Manager
Raymond
Caledonia W N
Root River
Hoods Creek
Franksville
Wind Point
Dan Meyer- Secretary Retail Fixture LLC
Laura Schulz
Bill Sasse, PE - Technical Lead
Root River East Canal
Root River West Canal
Mt. Pleasant
North Branch - Pike Riveer
Colonial Park
North Bay
Racine
UW-Parkside
Kathleen Field
Gateway Technical College
Union Grove
Sturtevant
Elmwood Park
John Scripp
RACINE CO. KENOSHA CO.
IK RIVE
Pike River
South Branch - Pike River
Petrifying Springs
Somers Park
Pike Creek
Lake Michigan
Environmental Attorney
Pete Rohlman
Millennium Forms
Mike Hoadley, PE, LEED AP
CG Schmidt, Inc.
800 Center St. #118
Racine, WI 53403
root-pike
basin
watersheds
Kenosha
Roger Chernik
Barnes Creek
Community Leader / Past President
262-898-2055
Tobin Creek
WISCONSIN ILLINOIS
Pleasant Prairie
Chiwaukee Prairie
Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network, Inc. is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to restoring, protecting and sustaining the Root-Pike basin since 2004.
