Underwood Creek Flood Management

Photo used from Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewage District

Underwood Creek was transformed into a concrete-lined ditch in the 1950s and 1960s in order to move water as fast as possible. Time has shown that concrete-lined channels can actually pose more problems. Underwood Creek became a danger to people during rainstorms due to high speeds, eliminated fish habitats, and caused more flooding upstream. MMSD is working to return Underwood Creek to a more naturalized state to reduce flood risks and public safety, and restore habitats.

Project Overview
The project constructed a series of pools and riffles (deep and shallow portions of a stream bed) in a low-flow channel to enhance the natural functions of Underwood Creek and widened the floodway to maintain a 100-year event within the limits of the project design limits.

MMSD partnered with USACE who financed 65 percent of the project costs, up to a maximum contribution of $10 million. Their services included project management, design services, and construction management oversite.

Please see MMSD project page here, Underwood Creek Flood Management and Restoration | MMSD

Project Components Include:

• Design and construction of removing approximately 4,400 linear feet of concrete channel liner on Underwood Creek from the Canadian Pacific Railway Bridge to the confluence with the Menomonee River and replacing it with a bioengineered channel
• Reconstruction of the channel in areas where the wetlands adjacent to rivers and streams were lowered to recreate a more aesthetic and natural watercourse corridor

Project Benefits

• Reduction of Flood Risk
• Naturalize Concrete Stream
• Provide more variety of life and the ecosystems
• Reconnect the creek to its floodplain

Project Status

The project was completed in 2022.