Top Stories Milwaukee

A Milwaukee alderman is questioning whether a walkway left underneath a Lincoln Creek bridge by the city Department of Public Works and the county-owned Estabrook Dam contributed to floods that damaged homes on the city’s northwest side during the 500-year rainstorm on July 22.

Ald. Joe Davis, who represents a district containing a section of the creek on the city’s northwest side, writes in a column published in the Milwaukee Courier newspaper that the walkway, constructed out of scaffolding and floor decking, “greatly impeded the flow of storm water” during the rain, and also during a previous heavy rain on July 16.

the scaffolding (photo provided by joe davis)

“In the neighborhood that surrounds this part of Lincoln Creek, water was not allowed to flow into the creek because the massive flow exceeded its capacity limits,” he says, adding that its capacity may have been limited by the scaffolding. The bridge in question is part of North 60th Street and crosses the creek just south of the street’s intersection with West Hampton Avenue.

According to DPW communication manager Cecilia Gilbert, “The scaffolding was needed to allow access for city crews painting the bridge girders. The painting operation was intermittently worked on by crews over this summer.”

The July 22 rains dropped more than seven inches of rain in some sections of the city in less than an hour. Gilbert says DPW took down the scaffolding on July 27 at Davis’ request. The painting was about two-thirds done at the time. According to Davis, the structure was removed after he had “heated discussions with the (DPW) project manager at the site.”

According to Dave Fowler, watercourse maintenance manager for the Metropolitan Milwaukee Sewerage District, the scaffolding could have contributed to flooding in the area, particularly if it accumulated debris traveling down the creek.

Gilbert says, “It is difficult to determine the effect the scaffolding had on creek flows.” Vegetation such as grass and weeds became trapped in the scaffolding, but there was nothing “that would have created a damming effect,” she adds.

joe davis

Both MMSD and DPW report that it appeared water flowed over the bridge during the floods. Fowler says further study would be required to determine if the water would have run over the roadway without the scaffolding below.

Following flooding in the 1990s, MMSD improve flood controls along Lincoln Creek. It’s now rated to withstand at least at 100-year rain (meaning a 1 percent chance of occurring in a year); as in other area waterways, the MMSD-designed controls allow an extra foot of bank beyond the 100-year mark.

But July 22 brought a lot more water. Fowler says Lincoln Creek’s controls were completed in 2002 and exceed national standards, but the waterway likely overflowed its banks on that day. MMSD hasn’t located all the places where the overflow occurred but has video footage of at least one location.

Much of the flooding could also have been caused by over-taxed storm drains. “It’s difficult to determine whether it was a storm water ponding issue or water actually leaving the banks,” he says.

County Supervisor Theo Lipscomb, who represents a district to the east of Davis’ also containing a section of Lincoln Creek, says he heard from residents the creek overflowed its banks near where the creek joins the Milwaukee River inside Lincoln Park. Homes in the area were severely damaged.

He says he’s met with MMSD to discuss the issue. “I believe there’s a capacity issue there,” he says. Fowler says MMSD isn’t sure if the creek overflowed in this area but is investigating further.

Dam flooding

Fowler and Lipscomb disagree with Davis’ contention that the Estabrook dam, which Lipscomb has tried to save from demolition, contributed to flooding upstream. The dam, which lies about a half-mile downstream from where the creek enters the Milwaukee River, needs major repairs, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Since 2008, the DNR has ordered the dam to stand open due to concerns about structural security. “During heavy rain events, Milwaukee County government just simply lets heavy flow exceed its levels and flow over the top of the dam,” Davis writes. “Although some say this allows the flow of storm water to continue, beneath the water’s surface (it) creates a collection point for debris which again causes restriction to … raging storm water.”

theo lipscomb

Davis notes incorrectly in the column that county workers are still required to manually open the dam’s gates during heavy rains. They stand open at all times under a 2008 DNR order.

Lipscomb says the July 22 storm washed away tree limbs and other debris that had accumulated in a spillway, a channel that runs beside the dam and serves as an alternate route for excess water. PCBs trapped in the spillway, however, were likely washed downstream with the debris, he says. The DNR is currently planning a large PCB cleanup upstream of the dam.

The Milwaukee Common Council meets today for the first time after its August recess. Council President Willie Hines says he plans to introduce legislation that would allow owners of homes that will have to be razed due to flood damage to purchase foreclosed city-owned homes for $1. Davis is also calling for the city, the county and MMSD to set aside a $5 million relief fund for residents impacted by the flood.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.