Storm Team 4
Storm tests new MMSD flood management basin
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Diane Pathieu reports. Video by tmj4.com
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MILWAUKEE - Wednesday night's wet weather proves to be the first true test of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District's new flood management facility.
Bill Graffin of MMSD tells Newsradio 620 WTMJ that it is designed to reduce the risk of major flooding in the Menomonee River.
The County Grounds Flood Management Facility is a huge basin that can handle 315 million gallons of water.
On Thursday morning, it seemed to be working.
The facility took six years and $95 million to construct.
It was built to protect 280 homes and businesses from floods in Milwaukee and Wauwatosa.
"This was a very expensive project, a very needed project," said Milwaukee County Supervisor Jim "Luigi" Schmitt.
"It's a terrific project. We needed to
do it for a number of reasons. It was the right spots, influence of the two rivers, Menomonee and Underwood. We had the land. We preserved the land."
"It's not only on the County Grounds, but at Hart Park, at the valley near MillerCoors, the Kinnickinnic project," explained Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.
"All of those are part of an effort to reduce the amount of water we have to discharge into Lake Michigan."
During heavy storms, a 17-foot diameter pipe will drain water from Underwood Creek into the basin, which will slowly drain back into the Menomonee River.
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