Rivers Archives | Marek Landscaping

Milwaukee River Streambank & Upland Stabilization

Marek — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 03:05:21 +0000

Marek Landscaping worked with the River Revitalization Foundation to restore 300 feet of Milwaukee River shoreline and 3 acres of habitat within the Milwaukee estuary. The project took place within the Milwaukee River Greenway Gateway Park, formerly known as Wheelhouse, which is one of the last and largest remaining parcels in the city suitable to become an urban riverfront park. The transformation of this land not only provides additional greenspace in the most densely populated region in the state, but also enhances fisheries management, establishes a riparian buffer, decreases erosion and runoff, lessens fragmentation of the primary environmental corridor, and increases public access by becoming another major entrance to the natural river valley upstream from downtown.

Marek Landscaping provided the design, construction estimates, technical writing for grant applications, wetland/ waterway permitting, and construction. The approach was to use bioengineering techniques for bank and slope stabilization and to replace invasives and non-natives with a diverse native mix. Construction consisted of initial site stabilization and sediment control, tree clearing, grading, river bank stabilization, soil placement, compost blanketing, reseeding, slope interrupter placement, biodegradable turf reinforcement mat placement, hydro mulching (2:1 slopes and steeper), and tree and shrub planting.

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Milwaukee River Trail Design & Bluff/Riverbank Restoration Master Plan

Marek — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 02:53:29 +0000

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.

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Milwaukee River Canoe Launch

Marek — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 03:10:27 +0000

The River Revitalization Foundation is in the process of transforming a former, 3 acre commercial property into the gateway park and trailhead for the Milwaukee River Greenway (about 500 acres of river and primary environmental corridor in the heart of Milwaukee). This project focused on rehabilitating a degraded boat ramp into a natural stone launch for the Milwaukee River and was funded through private and public grants and material donations. Marek Landscaping led the design and construction phases including erosion controls, removing and regrading the current concrete launch and gravel ramp path, and placing limestone outcropping block steps to form the canoe launch, enabling paddlers to launch boats at various water elevations. Temporary erosion control measures included a turbidity barrier during excavation into the riverbank and Filtrexx silt soxx. Permanent erosion control and biological stabilization techniques included natural fieldstone boulders at the bank edge, biodegradable fabric encapsulated soil lifts planted with native shrubs, perennials plugs, turf seed, and native seeding of disturbed riparian soil areas.

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