Greetings from the Wisconsin Coastal Resilience Team!

This month's newsletter contains:

• NEW Feature: Collaboration Classifieds
• Lake Michigan Water Level Update
• Resource of the Month: ReduceFloodRisk.org

• Case Study: Kemper Center Shoreline Protection Design Project

• Around the Great Lakes: Brandenburg Park Shoreline Restoration Project

• Funding Opportunities
• USACE Floodplain Management Services Program
• NFWF America the Beautiful Challenge
• NRCS Watershed Program Resources
• Upcoming Events: Funding and Financing Coastal Resilience webinar

Lake Michigan water continue their seasonal incline this spring, increasing by about 3 inches from April to May. Though Lake Michigan is now about 25 inches below the highest monthly water level recorded for May in 2020, the Lake is still about 10 inches above the long-term average water level. Water levels are expected to continue their seasonal incline until late summer but remain above the long-term average.

Watch the USACE's "On the Level" Youtube channel for monthly updates and information about the Great Lakes' water levels and forecasts from Detroit District Hydraulics and Hydrology experts.

Reduce Flood Risk

Reduce Flood Risk is a new, interactive flood mitigation resource library from the Association of State Floodplain Managers that helps property owners, particularly those in flood-prone areas, understand their flood risk and the most effective flood mitigation strategies for their particular property.

This tool guides property owners through a series of questions to help them understand their risk and the specific steps they can take to better protect their home or business. The tool is available online for free at ReduceFloodRisk.org. 

For this project, Kenosha County used a phased approach for developing sustainable strategies to adequately protect their Lake Michigan shoreline while maintaining public access to the Kemper Center shoreline.

The main strategies for this effort included:

• Rehabilitate the degraded shoreline revetment
• Extend or relocate stormwater outfalls
• Regrade the site to preserve the use of activity spaces in the park

The phased approach allowed Kenosha County to make design progress while leveraging their funding.

Check out the case study for a full description of the project phases and their lessons learned.

The Brandenburg Park Shoreline Restoration Project will improve habitat for fish and wildlife by restoring 740-feet of hardened shoreline on Lake St. Clair and installing of offshore habitat shoals. This project is a collaborative effort between the Great Lakes Commission and Chesterfield Township. 

They are currently finishing the construction phase and expect to complete the project this fall. Outcomes of this project include economic, environmental, and community benefits.

Floodplain Management Services Program

The Army Corps of Engineers Chicago District is seeking applicants for its Floodplain Management Services (FPMS) program. The FPMS program enables the Corps to provide services to communities to reduce flood risk. It is 100% federally funded, so no cost share is required of communities. FPMS projects are typically long-term projects including flood warning plans, hydraulic & hydrologic modeling, flood communications plans, and more. These studies do not result in construction but can help communities better manage their local flood risk.

Requests need to be packaged/supported by Wisconsin Emergency Management. Please contact Robyn Fennig (Robyn.Fennig@wisconsin.gov) with questions or ideas for projects.

Requests Due: Friday, June 17, 2022

FPMS Fact Sheet

Sample Request Letter

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation announced the 2022 RFP for the America the Beautiful Challenge. This is a public-private grant program designed to support locally led, voluntary ecosystem restoration projects. Approximately $85 million in grant funding is available for projects addressing key priorities including reconnecting wildlife corridors; restoring rivers, costs, wetlands and watersheds; and expanding access to the outdoors, among others. Applicants are encouraged to develop large landscape-scale and/or cross-jurisdictional projects that advance existing conservation plans or are informed by Indigenous Traditional Knowledge.

Full proposals Due: Thursday, July 21, 2022, by 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Request for Proposals (RFP)

Fact Sheet

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is encouraging local sponsors to submit project requests for funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offers several programs to help communities improve land and water resources within watersheds as well as relieve imminent hazards to life and property created by a natural disaster. Funding is available for new projects as well as those already submitted to NRCS. NRCS will consider projects in historically underserved communities that directly benefit limited resource areas or socially disadvantaged communities. Eligible project sponsors include state government entities, local municipalities, conservation districts, and federally recognized tribal organizations.

NOAA's Office for Coastal Management is hosting a virtual event to hear from two organizations working with communities to overcome barriers to funding and financing resilience projects.

Date: Tuesday 21 June 2022,

Time: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM CDT

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