Communities across the Midwest and Rocky Mountain areas are actively planning their approach to handle spring flooding…the season is already upon us. In Milwaukee, a recently completed project to rehabilitate an urbanized creek was designed to help improve flood management, and gets the test this year.

Underwood Creek — part of the Menomonee River watershed near Milwaukee, Wis. — was altered in the mid-1960s to address flooding issues. The channel was widened and realigned, and concrete lining was installed along a significant portion of its length. "The changes reduced peak water surface elevations in Underwood Creek itself," said Flood Management Expert Tom Sear, "but contributed to other problems, including increased peak discharges to the Menomonee River and increased water velocity during intense rainfall. Aquatic and floodplain habitat were negatively affected as well."

In response to these issues, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewage District (MMSD) completed preliminary engineering designs in 2002 for recommended flood management facilities, including plans to rehabilitate Underwood Creek. MMSD hired SEH in 2007 to complete final designs for a 2,200-foot watercourse rehabilitation, including phased construction services.

SEH recently wrapped up the project, which addresses flood management and enhances aquatic and wetland habitats by replacing the concrete-lined channel with a meandering stone-lined channel containing bioengineering components. The rehabilitated channel has reduced capacity, which will promote floodplain inundation.

"The rehabilitation of the creek restores a more natural flow pattern of pools and riffles," said Sear. "The pools provide deeper and cooler water that help fish and aquatic life survive, and create a more natural flow to slow down water which will help manage potential flooding."

The project also included lowering and restoring the adjoining seven-acre floodplain by installing native wetland plants and developing wildlife habitat.

What's Next?

A second future project will rehabilitate an additional 4,400 feet of Underwood Creek downstream from the current project.

Underwood Creek Rehabilitation Project Goals

• Improving flood management and public safety
• Providing stability during a 100-year design discharge event
• Using native plant species for revegetation
• Enhancing fisheries and stream dimensions and depths
• Upgrading habitat to support a variety of native wildlife
• Securing public use and accessibility