Grand Trunk Wetland restoration project moves forward with $3 million grant

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – Restoration to a wetland on Milwaukee's south side is moving forward with a $3 million dollar grant from the U.S. E.P.A.’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

The grant will go to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee. The announcement was made on Tuesday by Mayor Tom Barrett.

“[It] will positively impact the waterways around the Port of Milwaukee and the Milwaukee estuary,” Barret said.

Walking trails and a kayak launch will be built in addition to the restoration.

“The wetland has suffered through various changes over the past 100, 160 and 200 years; so we are going to clean that up,” Project Manager Benji Timm said. “A big part of it is cleaning up some of that environmental contamination, restoring some of the native vegetation and then creating habitats for the fish and wildlife.”

Restoration is scheduled to begin in 2019. There is not an exact cost of the project at this time. The city is hosting a public meeting for residents to learn more and give feedback on the project on May 3.