New facility marks milestone in Milwaukee Estuary cleanup

Completed ahead of schedule and $26 million under budget, the Dredged Material Management Facility (DMMF) is ready to provide safe, secure containment for tons of contaminated sediment that will be removed from the Milwaukee, Menomonee and Kinnickinnic Rivers, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) said.

MMSD partnered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), City of Milwaukee and Port Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, We Energies, and other stakeholders to create the new 42-acre storage facility that has the capacity to hold contaminated sediment equivalent to approximately 13 football fields filled to a depth of 50 feet.

“The DMMF is a key piece to addressing pollution in the Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern. Contaminants including PCBs, petroleum compounds and heavy metals put the Milwaukee Estuary on the list of most polluted Great Lakes sites decades ago,” said DNR Secretary, Karen Hyun. “Cleaning up and safely containing this toxic material in the years ahead will improve water quality, restore healthy fish and wildlife and ensure safe enjoyment of these waterways. By continuing our strong partnerships and collaboration, we will accomplish the work ahead to restore Milwaukee’s waters and remove the area of concern designation.”

While Milwaukee and other Great Lakes communities have long used waterfront storage sites for routine harbor dredging, this facility is uniquely designed to safely contain contaminated sediment.

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