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Green Sustainability
The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) recently partnered with District landowners to install green infrastructure devices through the Green Infrastructure Partnership Program. The program was established to help MMSD reach its goal to implement 10 million gallons of green infrastructure annually and achieve TMDL compliance. Learn how R/M helped the District make progress towards those goals through an efficient, streamlined green infrastructure inspection and maintenance program.
Renewable energy initiatives and opportunities are growing throughout the Midwest. Various types of organizations, both private and municipal, are evaluating open agricultural lands, under-utilized brownfields, closed landfills, and other open space for the potential installation of ground-mounted solar generation and battery storage projects. However, these initiatives like other projects, often come up against funding hiccups.
Failure to select and install the appropriate BMPs for your construction project will do more than negatively impact the health of our rivers, streams, and lakes. From hefty fines to project delays, here are the consequences developers and municipalities may face for failure to properly implement erosion and sediment control BMPs.
Engineers Week 2020 is almost here, and to celebrate, we’d like to help you get to know a few of our amazing engineers a little better!
Beaver Creek is a tributary to the Milwaukee River running through the heart of the Village of Brown Deer. Recently, the Village partnered with R/M to transform a struggling eight-foot-wide channel of the creek, and its adjacent multi-use pedestrian trail, into a thriving community corridor.
In March 2018, the Milwaukee River Basin TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) was updated to include specified limits for bacteria. The TMDL states that 90% of fecal pollution found in the river basin is attributed to a combination of rural and urban runoff from unknown sources. These pollutants enter the storm sewer system and flow untreated toward local streams, lakes, and wetlands, posing an ongoing threat to the overall health of our communities. Learn how R/M can help your community minimize the impact of bacteria in your waterways.
Envision® is a rating system and best practice resource that was developed to help successfully implement sustainability into infrastructure projects. Learn how R/M’s ENV SP certified engineers can help your project succeed.
The state of Wisconsin’s recent record-breaking precipitation has left many communities struggling to repair significant storm damage. Fortunately, there are a variety of grants available to help ease your municipality’s financial burden. As budget season begins, consider these upcoming grant opportunities.
In the right situation, roundabouts can have major advantages over a traditional stop sign or signal-controlled intersection. Keep reading to learn how the use of roundabouts can result in an increase in driver safety, a more efficient traffic flow, a more aesthetically pleasing intersection, lower construction and maintenance costs, and a positive environmental impact.
In order to keep your community’s trees healthy and structurally sound, it’s important to follow proper pruning and planting protocols. Here are a few of our best tips to help you keep your trees thriving all summer long.
When plans to buy, lease, or build expansions come to light, it’s important to spend time up front on environmental due diligence evaluations. If financing is needed, you will almost certainly be required to obtain a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (Phase I ESA) by your lender. Learn what this is and why it’s important when contemplating your next purchase of a property.
The amount and type of precipitation we experience on a daily or yearly basis can dramatically impact our lives and communities, and the consensus among experts is that the distribution of the world’s rainfall is shifting as our climate changes. Keep reading to learn how your community can prepare for changing precipitation.
Renewable energy initiatives and opportunities are growing in Wisconsin, Illinois, and throughout the Midwest. Municipalities, solar developers, and utility companies are evaluating agricultural lands, under-utilized brownfields, and closed landfills for the potential installation of ground-mounted solar energy projects. Learn how community-scale solar farms may be eligible for construction financing grants.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources released a public notice for the proposed MS4 General Permit No. WI-S050075-03 on February 25, 2019. Proposed changes to this permit may require changes to MS4 programs. Keep reading to learn how these changes could impact your municipality.
Ruekert & Mielke, Inc. (R/M) is excited to announce that we’ve recently hired Ginny Plumeau to lead our already robust Environmental Services Team. Plumeau is a Senior Ecologist, Registered Environmental Manager, and a regional leader in ecological services and permitting. Keep reading to learn how our Environmental Services Team can help your community succeed.
Snow plowing and applying road salt was the accepted norm from the mid-20th century until just a decade or so ago. More communities are now using new technologies and methods that are ultimately cheaper, better for the environment, and most importantly provide the level of safety the public expects during winter storm events.
The Wisconsin DNR Urban Nonpoint Source & Storm Water Management (UNPS) Planning Grant Program applications are now available on the WDNR website and are due mid-April of 2019 for the 2020-2021 grant period. Read on to learn how UNPS Grants can help your municipality with your storm water management plan.
At Ruekert & Mielke, Inc. (R/M), we understand the importance of protecting the environment in which we live, work, and play, and we are always looking for ways to help the communities we serve be more sustainable. As the holidays approach, we’d like to share a few tips on how you can make the season of giving a little more sustainable as well.
Pollutants that enter the storm sewer system and flow untreated toward the local streams, lakes, and wetlands pose an ongoing threat to the overall health of our communities. Not only can urban pollutants reduce the amount and quality of available habitat and present reproduction problems for aquatic bugs, amphibians, and fish, but high levels of bacteria in waterways also act as a source of human illness.
MS4 programs include important information required for permit compliance and the evaluation of the effectiveness of the programs over time. As state and federal authorities begin to require more detailed and quantifiable reporting information, it’s increasingly important to utilize reliable and efficient tools like GIS to track and store your MS4 permit data.
