Environmental Stewardship
Sixteenth Street partners with the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) and other key community, environmental and municipal agencies to restore the Kinnickinnic (KK) River Watershed. The watershed is the smallest, most urbanized and most densely populated within the Milwaukee River Basin and is home to Milwaukee’s predominantly Hispanic/Latinx south side.
Sixteenth Street’s Department of Environmental Health & Community Wellness is dedicated to improving both habitat and water quality within the KK River Watershed, as well as improving access to the river alongside MMSD’s restoration activities through outreach to the community. Our work builds upon the comprehensive watershed-wide plan (The Kinnickinnic River Watershed Updated Implementation Plan) that meets high environmental performance standards and is supported by the broader community. Once the restoration plan is fully implemented, it will reduce the risk of flooding, increase water quality, and provide additional community benefits such as improved park spaces.
The Department is also working to create opportunities for sustainability initiatives at our clinic locations such as:
- Sustainability + Health Learning Opportunities take place quarterly and are available to all SSCHC Staff
- Our staff Sustainability Committee was created in 2022 and is co-chaired by a member of the DEHCW team
- Rain gardens have been installed at two of our clinic locations, helping to manage rainwater where it falls and support native plants and pollinators
Restoring Habitat along the Kinnickinnic River
The Department is working to restore habitat along the KK River Trail, ensuring that the investment in the river goes beyond the water’s edge. From installing new bird and bat houses to removing invasive species to planting native trees and shrubs, this work will help clean water before it reaches the river and enhance habitat for Milwaukee’s native and migrating bird, butterfly, bat, insect and mammal populations! Since 2018, we have planted more than 300 native trees and shrubs in a 5-acre area along the river.
Helpful community members
Removing trash (photo: Karen Oliva)
Planting trees
KinnickInternship Program
Our summer high school internship program engages high school youth in environmental stewardship. Focusing on supporting healthy bodies, minds, lands and waters, the program provides opportunities for hands-on environmental work and learning. This includes:
- Working outdoors conducting land stewardship (removing invasives, planting natives)
- Learning about the connection between the environment and our health, green careers, financial literacy, mindfulness and environmental justice
- Participating in trash cleanups, physical activity, and art activities
- Collecting scientific data
- Building relationships with other teens in the program
We focus most of our work on and around the Kinnickinnic River but take field trips to locations that showcase environmental work in the city of Milwaukee, including spending a week at a water quality lab at the School of Freshwater Sciences and kayaking the KK River. Interns spend 15 hours/week in the program and are paid $12/hour. Email kmbrands@sschc.org to find out more!
Learning about macroinvertebrates
Removing invasive species
