Ozaukee County is restoring 910 linear feet of Mineral Springs Creek, a three-mile stream that connects Lake Michigan to the 490-acre Ulao Swamp, high-quality spawning habitat for Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, and Rainbow Trout. The project area has experienced severe erosion, loss of riparian vegetation, and exposure of critical infrastructure, including sanitary sewer lines and power poles, worsened by a historic 2018 rainstorm that dropped nine inches of rain in 24 hours.

Restoration activities will include re-grading the stream channel, stabilizing eroding banks, and native vegetation plantings to improve water quality, enhance aquatic organism passage, and strengthen resilience against future flooding. Expected outcomes include reduced sedimentation, improved stormwater management, enhanced fish passage, and increased habitat quality for native fish, birds, and wildlife. Our funding also helps Ozaukee County secure a matching $80,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Coastal Resiliency Fund.