Coastal Resilience Newsletter

Greetings from the Coastal Resilience Team!

This month's newsletter contains:

Lake Michigan Water Level Update
Resource of the Month: NOAA Coastal County Snapshots
Around the Great Lakes: Milwaukee River Estuary Cleanup
Save the Date: Collaborative Action for Lake Michigan Coastal Resilience (CALM)

Kick-off Meeting

Funding Opportunity: Infrastructure and Jobs Act

January Water Level Update

Lake Michigan water levels have continued their seasonal decline this fall, decreasing by about 5 inches from December to January. Though Lake Michigan is now about 28 inches below the highest monthly water level recorded for January in 2020, the Lake is still about 10 inches above the long-term average water level. Water levels are expected to continue their seasonal decline through the early winter but remain above the long-term average.

Watch the USACE's "On the Level" YouTube channel for updates and information about the Great Lakes' water levels and forecasts.

Go to full update

Resource of the Month

NOAA Coastal County Snapshots

This data hub provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) organizes county-level coastal resilience data for more than 850 coastal counties in the United States. Data are gathered from sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The data is categorized into three different “snapshots” including Marine Economy, Total Coastal Economy, and Special Flood Hazard. Each snapshot contains data associated with each topic displayed charts and maps that can be printed as preliminary economic reports or vulnerability assessments.

The information found in this hub can be used to ensure safety, protect homes and infrastructure, build coastal economies, and enhance the local environment. The information, visualizations, and reports can be used to help local governments communicate their coastal resilience needs and goals; however, the information can be useful at a larger scale to have a better understanding of the state’s coastal communities as well as at a smaller scale to help provide perspective to property owners about the hazards in their area.

Around the Great Lakes

Milwaukee River Estuary Cleanup

The Milwaukee Estuary is contaminated due to years of pollution. The estuary is contaminated with PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and heavy metals that are held in the sediment and water of the rivers. The contaminates have negative effects on the wildlife, and humans have seen a disruption of the reproductive system and cancer. It was named an Area of Concern (AOC) in 1987. Since then, there has been a lot of progress made but it is still one of the most contaminated areas on the Great Lakes. Recently, the Estuary has received $400 Million in funding to help clean up the estuary. This project is estimated to remove 130,000 truckloads of material (read more about this here). Additionally, there is a new sediment contaminant facility being opened, as well as another round of dredging coming (read more about it here). These additional resources will bring the Milwaukee Estuary a step closer to clean water and beaches. Read more about additional projects, resources, and how you can help here.

Learn More

Save the Date

Collaborative Action for Lake Michigan Coastal Resilience (CALM)

Kick-Off Meeting

Save the date for the first Collaborative Action for Lake Michigan (CALM) Coastal Resilience network meeting on March 23rd from 10:00am - 12:00pm CST.

CALM is a new coastal resilience network forming in Wisconsin. The project is focused on Wisconsin's entire Lake Michigan coastline. CALM is a network designed to increase coastal resilience by expanding coordination efforts among agencies, organizations, and local governments while sustaining existing coastal management networks and communities of practice. CALM will focus on assisting communities in developing, revising, or adopting local ordinances and/or coastal hazard plans and policies through outreach, data development and management, and promoting products and tools.

CALM is a partnership between the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, Wisconsin Sea Grant, and the Wisconsin State Cartographer's Office. This project is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Stay tuned for more details about the upcoming meeting!

Funding Opportunity

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

The Senate recently passed the Infrastructure and Jobs Act (H.R. 3684). The Act contains provisions for coastal and climate change resilience. Check out the summary of what this means for coastal investments.

Summary of Coastal Appropriations

If you have any questions about Lake Michigan coastal hazards or how to approach, plan, and prepare for them, please contact

Adam Bechle

bechle@aqua.wisc.edu

608-263-5133

For more information, visit the Southeast Wisconsin Coastal Resilience Project website or the Northeast Wisconsin Coastal Resilience Study portal

University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute | (608) 262-0905 | 1975 Willow Drive, 2nd Floor, Madison, WI 53706