Milwaukee River Trail Design & Bluff/Riverbank Restoration Master Plan

The Village of Shorewood hired Marek Landscaping to design a trail system and bluff/riverbank restoration plan along the Milwaukee River. The project area consisted of a narrow floodplain abutted by steep slopes, was about ½ mile in length, and 19 acres in area. Tasks included assessing the hydrology and drainage, erosion, plant communities, and trail accessibility, connections, and use by the public. Meetings were held with stakeholders, Village staff, and the public for input. These efforts culminated into a plan that provided recommendations on trail alignment and connections, vegetation management, bluff and riverbank stabilization and erosion controls, trail maintenance, trail signage, permits, budgets, and funding opportunities. The vegetation management plan included recommended phased invasive plant removals, revegetation strategies, and ongoing management. Strategies for bluff and riverbank stabilization included the use of soft and hard armoring along with compost-based best management practices.