Project Highlight — Transforming the Valley Creek Corridor through Collaborative Planning & Public Engagement
The City of Port Washington is embarking on an exciting watershed-scale initiative to revitalize Valley Creek, a crucial tributary flowing into Lake Michigan. This project aims to tackle the challenges facing Valley Creek using innovative, nature-based solutions. The goal is to not only stabilize the stream’s condition, but also strengthen the surrounding ecosystem and community by building climate resilience and improving public access.
Pictured: Valley Creek oxbow panorama
Photo Credit: Eddee Daniel
Thanks to close collaboration with Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership (LNRP), the City of Port Washington has secured design funding from both the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law! LNRP has been subcontracted with these funds to implement the education and outreach programs that will be incorporated into the restoration design process.
Project Significance
Pictured: Streambank erosion
Photo Credit: Eddee Daniel
Valley Creek serves as a connecting thread, joining together habitats and community access throughout the length of the corridor. However, it’s facing these serious issues that are impacting ecosystem health as well as public use and safety:
Bank erosion is causing increased flooding risk during heavy rain events and is undermining critical infrastructure such as water and sewer lines
Sediment and nutrient loading are degrading aquatic habitat and water quality, both downstream and in Lake Michigan
Riverbank collapses is leading to loss of streamside habitat throughout the valley
As climate change progresses, these issues will only become more pressing.
Restoration Plan
Pictured: Valley Creek restoration project map
The City of Port Washington is partnering with the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program (WCMP) to develop design plans to restore the entire 1.8-mile Valley Creek urban river corridor and its estuary at Lake Michigan. Major components of the design concept include:
Stabilizing eroded stream banks to prevent further erosion
Restoring a buried portion of the stream to its natural, above-ground state, a process known as “daylighting”
Improving the shape of the stream and creating habitats like riffles and pools to support aquatic life and stabilize the channel
Removing barriers to fish passage
Restoring floodplain wetlands to reduce flood risks and enhance ecosystem resilience
Public Engagement & Education
The City of Port Washington’s Environmental Planning Committee will serve as the project’s steering committee, and will meet quarterly to discuss project details, timeline, actions completed and design elements. Members of the public will be encouraged to attend these quarterly meetings. Educational opportunities will also include field‐based programming, design charrettes with a focus on water quality, and habitat restoration initiatives. The City will present project updates at annual conferences, such as Lake Michigan Day, which brings together a diverse group of stakeholders ranging from citizens, agencies, partner non‐profits, municipalities, friends’ groups and consultants. Additionally, information will be made available online to educate residents and park users on the project.
Pictured: UWM School of Freshwater Sciences student takes notes at a Valley Creek site visit
LNRP has already been working closely with multiple partners to implement educational programs spanning from elementary through college levels. Dr. Ryan Newton at UW-Milwaukee’s School of Freshwater Science (SFS) has chosen Valley Creek as the first site of SFS’s undergraduate capstone project in which students will operate as a small restoration consultant team. The Wisconsin Sea Grant, another partner on this project, will provide additional higher education internships. St. Marcus Lutheran Schools, an organization out of Milwaukee but funded, in part, by the Krier Foundation, will bring students to Valley Creek to catch macroinvertebrates, learn the basics of water monitoring, and enjoy time in nature. LNRP is also collaborating with Riveredge Nature Center to bring additional educational programming to the restoration site.
LNRP is taking active steps to ensure that we are centering diversity, equity, and inclusion through our role in project outreach. Our staff and partners are developing educational programs with the goal of providing experiences to underserved students in the Milwaukee area. There will also be outreach focused on differently-abled community members. Project designs will be reviewed by Portal, Inc., an Ozaukee County based resource center for disabled adults, before they are finalized. This will ensure accessibility of the Valley Creek Corridor for all community members who wish to spend time there.
A Major Milestone
The transformation of the Valley Creek Corridor represents a significant milestone in the City of Port Washington's commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement. Through collaborative planning and public outreach efforts, this initiative seeks not only to address the pressing challenges facing Valley Creek but also to create a more resilient and accessible natural area for both present and future generations to enjoy.
Stay Tuned!
After its fully-funded two year design phase, the project designs will be implemented in 2026. If you’re a Port Washington resident, you will have an opportunity to provide input on this project! LNRP will continue to share project updates and input opportunities.