This is a Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern Project. Please visit the Parks & the AOC and the Waterway Restoration Partnership for more information on this amazing, multi-partner effort to clean-up waterways and restore habitat across the County.
Reminder: The Kletzsch Fish Passage is a designated fish refuge and is for the use of fish and aquatic wildlife only. Paddling, fishing, or accessing the fish refuge are prohibited. Please help us protect these areas by enjoying the views of the fish passage from the west bank of the river. Thank you for your cooperation -- the migrating fish appreciate you!
Updates: The fish passage is open and actively being used by fish! As a reminder, crews will still be working on site to establish vegetation and complete maintenance tasks.
Project Background:
Have you travelled down the river road? A road is quite literally what rivers are for fish and many water dwelling critters. These are paths that lead to resources critical for survival. Dams in our river can prevent access to food and spawning habitat. While some fish in the Milwaukee River can overcome this hurdle, for others, like Lake Sturgeon and Northern Pike, there is no detour. Providing fish passage around Kletzsch Dam was identified as a critical project needed to address the Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat Beneficial Use Impairment (for more on BUIs visit Parks and the AOC). It was the last major impediment to fish passage for our larger native species.
As dam owner, Milwaukee County Parks, in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), began work on the Kletzsch Dam Repair and Fish Passage project in 2017. A consultant was selected to develop designs for fish passage. This effort combined multiple projects into one, seeking to provide fish passage while addressing dam repairs required by DNR. Additional components included a portage and overlook project. From 2018 – 2019 public comment was used to modify a series of concepts, which culminated in a design for in-river fish passage on the west bank. However, during that time, it was also determined that an east bank fish passage was the community preferred option. Unfortunately, this was not possible for the County – designs predicted increases in flood elevations on private property. To make east bank fish passage possible, property acquisition was required. The project was placed on hold in January 2020, but a new path forward was soon forged through long standing partnerships.
The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) proposed a collaboration in December of 2020. With flood management responsibilities, technical expertise in this type of project, and the capability to acquire the required property on the east bank, they transitioned to Project Lead. The County and MMSD entered into an Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement. Portage and overlook portions of the project were dropped. MMSD would oversee and implement the design and construction of the fish passage, as well as dam repair. While not an AOC project, combining construction for both projects was the most efficient and cost-effective path forward. Dam repair was funded by a 50/50 match Municipal Dam Grant from DNR. The County and DNR retained roles as active partners, coordinating on and approving final design and construction activities. The County would retain ownership of the dam and fish passage, with responsibility for all future maintenance. More details on work and updates were provided on the MMSD Project Page as well as the Waterway Restoration Partnership Project Page.
Fish passage opens - Photo credit MMSD
Fast forward to December 2023 – when the fish passage opened to the flow of water! While additional activities remain, including a 3-year vegetative maintenance period, the bulk of construction activities are complete. Scroll through our photo gallery to see progress to date!
Reminder: A Fish Passage for Fish
We are so grateful to the many partners and community groups who helped make this project a success. We know that friends and neighbors are eager to visit and learn more. However, right now there is no public access to the fish passage. Sensitive young plants need time to establish and require protection from foot traffic. While you may notice inviting features, like the concrete bridge, these were installed specifically to allow for Parks maintenance of the site.
Most importantly, the fish passage is a path for fish and aquatic wildlife only and it is a designated fish refuge. This means certain activities are prohibited. Please follow the rules on the posted signs and remember:
 | - No fishing of any kind is allowed within the Kletzsch Park Dam Fish Passage. The refuge encompasses the entire fish passage and extends 30 feet above and below the fish passage and west to the island in the river.
- Please restrict fishing to the west bank of the river, which is open to anglers.
- No paddling or access through the fish passage is allowed.
- Access and use restrictions include walking in or around the fish refuge area.
|
Where can I learn more?
Still looking for more information? Check back on Parks’ website for updates on this and other AOC projects (keyword search: Area of Concern), or you can find fact sheets, videos, presentations and project specific answers to frequently asked questions by visiting Waterway Restoration Partnership website.
This is a Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern Project. Please visit the Parks & the AOC and the Waterway Restoration Partnership for more information on this amazing, multi-partner effort to clean-up waterways and restore habitat across the County.
Reminder: The Kletzsch Fish Passage is a designated fish refuge and is for the use of fish and aquatic wildlife only. Paddling, fishing, or accessing the fish refuge are prohibited. Please help us protect these areas by enjoying the views of the fish passage from the west bank of the river. Thank you for your cooperation -- the migrating fish appreciate you!
Updates: The fish passage is open and actively being used by fish! As a reminder, crews will still be working on site to establish vegetation and complete maintenance tasks.
Project Background:
Have you travelled down the river road? A road is quite literally what rivers are for fish and many water dwelling critters. These are paths that lead to resources critical for survival. Dams in our river can prevent access to food and spawning habitat. While some fish in the Milwaukee River can overcome this hurdle, for others, like Lake Sturgeon and Northern Pike, there is no detour. Providing fish passage around Kletzsch Dam was identified as a critical project needed to address the Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat Beneficial Use Impairment (for more on BUIs visit Parks and the AOC). It was the last major impediment to fish passage for our larger native species.
As dam owner, Milwaukee County Parks, in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), began work on the Kletzsch Dam Repair and Fish Passage project in 2017. A consultant was selected to develop designs for fish passage. This effort combined multiple projects into one, seeking to provide fish passage while addressing dam repairs required by DNR. Additional components included a portage and overlook project. From 2018 – 2019 public comment was used to modify a series of concepts, which culminated in a design for in-river fish passage on the west bank. However, during that time, it was also determined that an east bank fish passage was the community preferred option. Unfortunately, this was not possible for the County – designs predicted increases in flood elevations on private property. To make east bank fish passage possible, property acquisition was required. The project was placed on hold in January 2020, but a new path forward was soon forged through long standing partnerships.
The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) proposed a collaboration in December of 2020. With flood management responsibilities, technical expertise in this type of project, and the capability to acquire the required property on the east bank, they transitioned to Project Lead. The County and MMSD entered into an Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement. Portage and overlook portions of the project were dropped. MMSD would oversee and implement the design and construction of the fish passage, as well as dam repair. While not an AOC project, combining construction for both projects was the most efficient and cost-effective path forward. Dam repair was funded by a 50/50 match Municipal Dam Grant from DNR. The County and DNR retained roles as active partners, coordinating on and approving final design and construction activities. The County would retain ownership of the dam and fish passage, with responsibility for all future maintenance. More details on work and updates were provided on the MMSD Project Page as well as the Waterway Restoration Partnership Project Page.
Fish passage opens - Photo credit MMSD
Fast forward to December 2023 – when the fish passage opened to the flow of water! While additional activities remain, including a 3-year vegetative maintenance period, the bulk of construction activities are complete. Scroll through our photo gallery to see progress to date!
Reminder: A Fish Passage for Fish
We are so grateful to the many partners and community groups who helped make this project a success. We know that friends and neighbors are eager to visit and learn more. However, right now there is no public access to the fish passage. Sensitive young plants need time to establish and require protection from foot traffic. While you may notice inviting features, like the concrete bridge, these were installed specifically to allow for Parks maintenance of the site.
Most importantly, the fish passage is a path for fish and aquatic wildlife only and it is a designated fish refuge. This means certain activities are prohibited. Please follow the rules on the posted signs and remember:
| - No fishing of any kind is allowed within the Kletzsch Park Dam Fish Passage. The refuge encompasses the entire fish passage and extends 30 feet above and below the fish passage and west to the island in the river.
- Please restrict fishing to the west bank of the river, which is open to anglers.
- No paddling or access through the fish passage is allowed.
- Access and use restrictions include walking in or around the fish refuge area.
|
Where can I learn more?
Still looking for more information? Check back on Parks’ website for updates on this and other AOC projects (keyword search: Area of Concern), or you can find fact sheets, videos, presentations and project specific answers to frequently asked questions by visiting Waterway Restoration Partnership website.
Please remove the dam to allow fish to migrate naturally.