Case Study: TrashVeyor™ Intercepts Floating Debris Before Entering Lake Michigan

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Kinnickinnic River is 9.6 miles long and 93% urban land cover
Watershed covers about 25 square miles and is home to 145,000 people
Located in one of the most populated and poorest areas of the City of Milwaukee
Flows into Lake Michigan through the Milwaukee Estuary
Restoration efforts are underway to improve its ecosystem and address flood risks

Kinnickinnic River in Milwaukee is 9.6 miles long and 93% urban land cover

PROJECT CHALLENGE

Very developed shoreline increases nutrients entering the lake, resulting in aquatic plant growth and algae blooms
Popular recreational destination requires a balance between a healthy aquatic ecosystem and recreational access
Invasive Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM), curly-leaf pondweed, and non-native zebra mussels are present
Harvester permitted to remove invasives and to cut specific navigational lanes

THE SOLUTION

Aquatic Weed Harvesting is a long-term commitment on Lake Ripley. Efforts have successfully reduced invasive EWM by 57%, with over 1,000 loads of harvested plants removed from the lake.

The portable modular design of the Structural BMP is used to provide a solution to floating marine debris in urban and off- grid locations.

The TrashVeyor is a stationary, automated interceptor that removes floating debris using the natural flow of the waterway.

Aquatic plants are vital for water quality, algae control, sediment stabilization, and shoreline protection. The District recognizes the importance of riparian access and strives to maintain a balanced aquatic plant environment.