III. Enhance Our Quality of Life Assets

Section III. A - Highlights:

1. Anticipate completing task through preservation of Clay Bluffs - 132 acres, River Oaks - 3 acres, and a few other smaller projects. Little Menomonee River Project - 56 acres added in 2021 deed transfer. Land & Water working with the Town of Grafton and have secured a grant for River Oaks from FEMA and the WI Division of Emergency Management. Anticipate securing funding, and closing on two additional properties in 2021 to add to River Oaks.

Sep - 2021 Update - Acquisition of the 132 acre Clay Bluffs Cedar Gorge Nature Preserve is ongoing. Little Menomonee River Fish and Wildlife Preserve is now a County Park in the Ozaukee County Park System (56 acres). Approximately 2.8 acres within four parcels at River Oaks County Park with funding from FEMA/WEM and WDNR closing in 2021. Landowner coordination for donation of 7 acre Ulao Gateway property in the Village of Grafton. Landowner coordination for donation of 8.5 acres of INRA along the OIT in the Town of Grafton.

April - 2022 Update - Acquisition of the 132 acre Clay Bluffs Cedar Gorge Nature Preserve is ongoing. The 56 acre Little Menomonee River Fish and Wildlife Preserve is now a County Park in the Ozaukee County Park System. Donation of the 7 acre Ulao Creek Nature Preserve completed in February 2022, is now a County Park in the Ozaukee County Park System. Approximately 2.8 acres within four parcels at River Oaks County Park are being acquired in 2022 (2 of 4 properties closing in April 2022, remainder to close in 2022) with funding from WDNR/WEM/FEMA. Landowner coordination continues for donation of 8.5 acres of INRA along the OIT in the Town of Grafton. Planning for acquisition of up to 67.2 acres as part of the County Highway W reconstruction and restoration project in the Village of Saukville.

June - 2023 Update - Acquisition of the 134 acre Clay Bluffs Cedar Gorge Nature Preserve is complete (August 2022) and is now a County Park in the Ozaukee County Park System. The 56 acre Little Menomonee River Fish and Wildlife Preserve is now a County Park in the Ozaukee County Park System (April 2021). Donation of the 7 acre Ulao Creek Nature Preserve completed (February 2022) and is now a County Park in the Ozaukee County Park System. Approximately 2.5 acres within four parcels at River Oaks County Park were acquired (April and July 2022). Total acres to date: 200. Landowner coordination continues for donation of 8.5 acres of INRA along the OIT in the Town of Grafton. Planning for acquisition of up to 67.2 acres as part of the County Highway W reconstruction and restoration project in the Village of Saukville. Ongoing coordination with partners and landowners for acquisition of property in the Lion's Den Gorge Project Area and coordination of transferring existing County properties and a Town property in the Town of Saukville to the Ozaukee County Park System.

2. Conversations have started with municipalities in 2021. Agreements to come in 2022.

April - 2022 Update - Conversations continuing with municipalities in 2022. Specific scope discussions with Town and Village of Belgium and coordination with SEWRPC.

June - 2023 Update - Conversations continuing with municipalities in 2023. Specific scope discussions with Town and Village of Belgium and coordination with SEWRPC. Conversations continuing with municipalities in 2023. Comprehensive Planning Board conditionally approved Chapter 1 and 2 of the updated Park and Open Space Plan in February 2023. The P&P Department completed a countywide public opinion survey in 2020 for the Park and Open Space Plan update. The P&P Department received a Farmland Preservation Planning grant ($30,000) from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection for plan preparation in 2023, as well as a Farmland Preservation Plan extension until December, 2025.

3. Tentatively planning to reconstitute in December, 2021.

Sep - 2021 Update - Tentatively planning to reconstitute in December, 2021.

April - 2022 Update - Plans to reconstitute both both boards following recent elections in May 2022.

June - 2023 Update - Comprehensive Planning Board held first new meeting in 2023. Work is underway to reconstitute the Land Preservation Board.

4. Engaged in a multi-county partnership, with MSSD serving as project manager to improve water quality through easements on farmland, cost-sharing with farmers, and implementing agricultural best practices.

Sep - 2021 Update - In process of approving Intergovernmental Cooperative Agreement with MMSD. Developing promotional materials. Establshed a 5 year Soil Health Assessment Program; working with 2 members of the Clean Farm Families.

April - 2022 Update - Engaging local farmers/landowners and ag community to implement agricultural best practice, that lead to more sustainable farmland, that reduce runoff pollution.

June - 2023 Update - Not beginning Farmland Preservation Plan update until 2024. P&P Department received extension from DATCP for FPP until 12/2025. P&P Department received $30,000 FPP grant from DATCP in 2023 to complete the FPP update.

7. Closed an EPA grant in 2019. Additional ROW work done in partnership with Highway Department. Progress largely dependent on grants.

April - 2022 Update - Continued work on National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Sustain Our Great Lakes (SOGL) invasive species grant County-wide. Continued ROW invasive species work in partnership with the Highway Department. Received additional competitive grant funding from Southeastern Wisconsin Invasive Species Consortium (SEWISC) for Hawthorne Hills County Park and Ulao Creek Nature Preserve. Recieved additional competitive grant funding from the Brookby Foundation for invasive species work. Received competitive WDNR Urban Forestry grant to manage EAB-infected ash trees.

June - 2023 Update - Continued work on National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Sustain Our Great Lakes (SOGL) invasive species grant County-wide (PH I - goal of 250 acres). Continued work on Southeastern Wisconsin Invasive Species Consortium (SEWISC) grant for Hawthorne Hills County Park and Ulao Creek Nature Preserve (goal of 17 acres). Continued work on WDNR Urban Forestry grant to manage EAB-infected ash trees (goal of 75 trees removed). Received additional competitive grant funding ($2,000) from Southeastern Wisconsin Invasive Species Consortium (SEWISC) for work at Covered Bridge County Park (goal of 12 acres). Closed out Brookby Foundation and SEWISC PH I ROW grant projects (total of 36 acres managed). Applied for a PH II (goal of 250 acres) county-wide invasive species management project through NFWF SOGL.

8. Utilizing three large Forest Service grants, the intent is to plant two trees for every one ash tree taken down.

April - 2022 Update - 9 grants received in 2021 ($1,212,800) for habitat restoration inclusive of USFS grants noted below. Closed MeeKwon Phase III at end of 2021. Continuing work with Hawthorne Hills Project Area, and initiated work on Coastal Parks USFS grants. Received a NFWF National Coastal Resililency Foundation grant for restoration activities on Mineral Springs Creek in the City of Port Washington (2021). Received a WDNR Urban Forestry grant (2022) for native tree planting. Received Brookby Foundation grant for tree planting (2021). Continued tree planting at the Little Menomonee River Fish and Wildlife Preserve. Total of 4,083 trees planted in 2021.

June - 2023 Update - Two grants received in 2022 ($19,844) and five grants received in 2023 thus far ($1,474,700) for habitat restoration. Closed out ATC grant for tree planting at Tendick Park in 2022. Continuing work with Hawthorne Hills Project Area, and initiated work on Coastal Parks USFS grants. Continuing work on NFWF National Coastal Resililency Foundation grant for restoration activities on Mineral Springs Creek in the City of Port Washington (2023). Began a WDNR Urban Forestry grant (2022) for native tree planting. Closed Brookby Foundation grant for tree planting (2021). Received an ATC grant for tree planting in Clay Bluffs Cedar Gorge Nature Preserve (2022). Received a Phase II Coastal Parks USFS grant ($200,000) in 2023. Total of 6,339 trees planted in 2022 and 256 trees planted in 2023 to-date.

County Indicators

Community Indicators TBD

Section III. B - Highlights:

1. Pursuing completion through the Soil Health Initiative. Clean Farm Families will be engaging the County Board in 2021, and also hosting a virtual conference in 2021.

April - 2022 Update - Budgeted $40,000 in 2022 for the Clean Farm Families Program, and purchasing Air Flow Seeder in 2022 and Tractor puchased in 2021, to be rented by farmers in Ozaukee County, for no-till and soil health initiatives.

2. Anticipate starting in late 2021, as a high priority of the Land & Water Department.

April - 2022 Update - Need to research/benchmark a model for Septic Replacement Program.

3. Land & Water Department engaging in assisting in engineering agricultural methods. Farmers required to comply only if funds are available.

Sep - 2021 Update - Land & Water Department targeting DNR and Dept. of Ag Funds to assist farmers with compliance. Projects under construction.

4. Planning & Parks engaging in stormwater design for Mee-Kwon County Park, developing TMDLs for Pigeon Creek and identifying projects. Land & Water Department targeting Department of Agriculture funds for farmers to utilize in the key areas identified in the nine key element plans.

Sep - 2021 Update - Funding has been secured for the Mee-Kwon County Park Storwmater and Green Infrastructure project in the Pigeon Creek watershed. Planning and Parks Department is also working to identify projects under the Fredonia Newburg 9-key Element Plan. Ongoing stream restoration on Mole Creek with continued water quality sampling. Land & Water Department obtained TRM funds for 2022.

April - 2022 Update - Ongoing modeling, engineering and design for the Mee-Kwon County Park Stormwater and Green Infrastructure project in the Pigeon Creek Watershed (construction planned for fall 2022). Planning and Parks Department is also working to identify projects under the Fredonia Newburg 9-key Element Plan, including project planning for stream and wetland restoration at Tendick Nature Park. Significantly completed additional phase of stream restoration on Mole Creek in 2021 with continued water quality sampling. Land & Water Department targeting Department of Agriculture and DNR funds for farmers to utilize in the key areas identified in the nine key element plans. Obtained TRM Funds for 2022.

June - 2023 Update - Ongoing construction and restoration of the Mee-Kwon County Park Stormwater and Green Infrastructure project in the Pigeon Creek Watershed (to be complete in Summer 2023), funded by WDNR UNP & SWP ($45,000) and WCMP ($38,000) grants. Planning and Parks Department is also working to identify projects under the Fredonia Newburg 9-key Element Plan, including project planning for stream and wetland restoration at Tendick Nature Park. Significantly completed additional phase of stream restoration on Mole Creek in 2022 with continued water quality sampling. Land & Water Department targeting Department of Agriculture and DNR funds for farmers to utilize in the key areas identified in the nine key element plans. Obtained TRM Funds for 2022.

5. Sep - 2021 Update - Funding has been secured for the Mee-Kwon County Park Storwmater and Green Infrastructure project in the Pigeon Creek watershed, with solicitation of design and engineering proposals from consulting firms. Ongoing water quality monitoring.

April - 2022 Update - Funding has been secured for the Mee-Kwon County Park Storwmater and Green Infrastructure project in the Pigeon Creek watershed, with ongoing modeling, engineering and design from a consulting firm (construction planned for fall 2022). Ongoing water quality monitoring. Planning and Parks Department is also working to identify projects under the Fredonia Newburg 9-key Element Plan, including project planning for stream and wetland restoration at Tendick Nature Park.

June - 2023 Update - Ongoing construction and restoration of the Mee-Kwon County Park Stormwater and Green Infrastructure project in the Pigeon Creek Watershed (to be complete in Summer 2023), funded by WDNR UNP & SWP ($45,000) and WCMP ($38,0000 grants. Completed surfacewater and groundwater study for Virmond Park, ongoing engineering engineering and design for stormwater wetland restoration funded by FFLM ($134,000) and WCMP ($96,000). Innovative stormwater management through wetland creation and stream restoration on ~25 acres at Little Menomonee Fish and Wildlife Area.

6. Acquired and restoring Little Menomonee Park. Approximately, half-way through addressing the identified impediments in Ozaukee Fish Passage program.

Sep - 2021 Update - Acquired and restoring the Little Menomonee River Fish and Wildlife Preserve. Approximately half-way complete addressing identified fish and aquatic life passage impediments. Ongoing habitat restoration activities at Mole Creek, Ulao Creek, and Mineral Springs Creek. Ongoing fish passage impediment removal or remediation projects on Silver Beach Creek, Mole Creek, Tendick Creek, and Sucker Brook Creek. Ongoing habitat assessment for the Little Menomonee River. Ongoing reconstruction of the MT Fishway. Environmental monitoring at all active project locations.

April - 2022 Update - 5 grants received in 2021 ($837,121) for fish passage activities. Acquired and restoring the Little Menomonee River Fish and Wildlife Preserve. Approximately half-way complete addressing identified fish and aquatic life passage impediments. Ongoing habitat restoration activities at Mole Creek (significantly completed recent phase in 2021), Ulao Creek (additional phases planned), and Mineral Springs Creek (construction and restoration planned for summer 2022). Completed fish passage removal or impediment remediation projects on Buser Creek. Ongoing fish passage impediment removal or remediation projects on Silver Beach Creek (project planning), Mole Creek (construction planned for summer 2022), Tendick Creek (several impediments remediated in 2021, ongoing work planned for 2023), and Sucker Brook Creek (construction planned for spring/summer 2022). Ongoing habitat assessment for the AOC Little Menomonee River project. Ongoing reconstruction of the MT Fishway (final completion anticipated summer 2022). Environmental monitoring at all active project locations.

June - 2023 Update - 6 grants received in 2022/2023 ($1,321,500) for fish passage, habitat restoration, and water quality monitoring activities. Restoring the Little Menomonee River Fish and Wildlife Preserve. Approximately half-way complete addressing identified fish and aquatic life passage impediments. Ongoing habitat restoration activities at Mineral Springs Creek (significantly completed PH I in 2022) and Ulao Creek (additional phases planned). Completed fish passage removal or impediment remediation projects on Mole Creek (Center Road culvert replacement) and Sucker Creek (private farm crossing) in 2022. Ongoing fish passage impediment removal or remediation projects on Silver Beach Creek (project planning), Tendick Creek (design and engineering ongoing for fish passage removals and stream restoration), and Sucker Creek (fish passage construction planned for summer/fall 2023, ongoing design and engineering for large scale habitat and stream restoration). Ongoing habitat assessments and design and engineering for the AOC Little Menomonee River project. Reconstruction of the MT Fishway significantly completed in 2022. Ongoing design and engineering for the CTH W roadway reconstruction and Milwaukee River Oxbow / Floodplain reconnection project in the Village of Saukville. Ongoing environmental monitoring at all active project locations. Habitat analysis for Lake Sturgeon ongoing.

County Indicators

Community Indicators

Section III. C - Highlights:

1. Actively working towards reengaging OIT Advisory Council and meeting later in 2022.

June - 2023 Update - Actively working towards reengaging OIT Advisory Council and meeting later in 2023. Ongoing coordination with municipal partners on meeting safety goals occurred throughout 2022. In 2023, several safety improvements are being constructed including the trail crossing at Mequon Road in the City of Mequon (starting in 2023), improvements to the lighting and trail crossing at Pioneer Road in the City of Cedarburg (2021 - 2022) and trail crossing improvements at Sunset Road in the City of Port Washington (2021 - 2022). Improvements for the OIT in the Village of Thiensville are planned for 2023 - 2024.

2. Actively pursuing grants to re-pave the OIT. Secured funding that was became uncommitted to the County by the State. Worked with the Hwy Department in 2019/2020 to rate the trail's pavement condition.

April - 2022 Update - Actively pursuing grants to re-pave the OIT including State Tourism Capital Grant (not received), WisDOT TAP grant (pending), County Capital Fund grant (pending), and federal RAISE grant in conjunction with SEWRPC (pending).

June - 2023 Update - Received WisDOT TAP grant in 2022 ($999,212) to re-pave the OIT, County Capital Fund request (ARPA - $300,000). Federal RAISE grant in conjunction with SEWRPC request was not funded. Staff completed WisDOT TAP grant training (2023).

3. Currently, no grant funding has been secured. Regional meetings on-going to determine the best east-west corridor, i.e. Hwy 60, or Mequon Road, or Freistadt Road are all possible east-west connections.

Sep - 2021 Update - Currently, no grant funding has been secured. Worked with SEWRPC and regional Route of the Badger coalition to apply for federal RAISE funding for planning East-West corridors. Regional meetings on-going to determine the best east-west corridor, i.e. Hwy 60, or Mequon Road, or Freistadt Road are all possible east-west connections.

April - 2022 Update - See above.

June - 2023 Update - The Department applied for a WisDOT TAP grant in 2023 and SEWRPC TIP Committee approved $434,079 in funding to be formally awarded by WisDOT. This grant will fund a 1.6 mile new trail extension from the OIT in the Village of Grafton (1st Ave) to 5 corners in the Town of Cedarburg along STH 60. Continued coordination with Route of the Badger and Regional meetings are ongoing for east-west corridor planning.

4. Secured and closed-out joint marketing effort grant with the Ozaukee Tourism Council. Pursuing additional marketing grants to continue joint marketing effort. Improvements are being made at Pioneer Village.

Sep - 2021 Update - Pursuing additional joint effort marketing grants (phase II 2022). Improvements to Pioneer Village completed including new mound system and OCHS is making improvements to the train depot.

April - 2022 Update - Pursuing additional joint effort marketing grants (phase II 2022). Improvements to Pioneer Village completed including significant new tree planting.

June - 2023 Update - Coordinating with OCTC on a JEM grant application and funding and completion of a county map and trail map (2023), ongoing coordination with OCHS on new infrastructure including groundwater well monitoring and event coordination.

5. An appropriate project site has not been identified yet. A 60 acre site is optimal.

June - 2023 Update - An appropriate project site has been identified and the Department is working with the Town of Saukville on a property transfer.

6. Maintenance facility is in the engineering/design phase, and funding is secured.

April - 2022 Update - Contract awarded for construction of the maintenance facility (construction planned for 2022). Grant funding (WDNR Stewardship)pending for public bathrooms/showers at the facility. Ongoing planning for future campground.

June - 2023 Update - Construction of the maintenance facility ongoing. Received bid and approval for PH II construction (2023). WDNR Stewardship grant funding ($187,050) and County Capital Funding ($150,000) secured for public bathrooms/showers at the facility. Ongoing planning for future campground and onsite grading in 2023 (funded by Ecological Division grants).

7. Project is halfway built, and funding secured. Tentatively scheduled to complete in 2021.

April - 2022 Update - Staircase nearing significant completion, with ongoing bluff stability analysis and project planning for full public access to Lake Michigan. Ongoing fundraising.

June - 2023 Update - Staircase nearing significant completion (final completion in 2023), with ongoing bluff stability analysis and project planning for full public access to Lake Michigan. Ongoing fundraising, approximately $30,000 in private donations raised to-date.

8. Funding secured to complete ADA improvements in 2021 at Hawthorne Hills Golf Course clubhouse, and HH Peters Youth Camp through CDBG-Close grant. Maintenance facility costs came in high.

Sep - 2021 Update - Ongoing solicitation of engineering and design proposals for ADA access.

April - 2022 Update - ADA funding could not support improvements to the Hawthorne Hills Clubhouse (public bids rejected due to high costs/insufficient funds). HH Peters Youth Camp ADA improvements ongoing (expected completion May 2022). Ongoing engineering and design for loft construction at MeeKwon Golf Course Maintenance Facility.

June 2023 Update - Completed new roof, gutters and siding at Hawthorne Hills Golf Course Clubhouse under Enterprise Fund. Completed ongoing siding improvements to the Mee-Kwon Golf Course Maintenance Facilities (painting and siding) in 2023. HH Peters Youth Camp ADA improvements completed. Engineering and design ongoing for loft construction at MeeKwon Golf Course Maintenance Facility. Improvements to kitchen facilities at both golf course clubhouses completed.

County Indicators

Community Indicators