Stormwater Archives | Marek Landscaping

Whitefish Bay Residence Landscape & Stormwater Design – Build

Megan Foley — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 15:19:04 +0000

After severe flooding in July 2010, the client was looking for options to help remediate stormwater quantities from roof downspouts and harvest the water for reuse in their garden. This small backyard was renovated to provide a 500-gallon collection system using an AquaBlox® storage system. Located beneath the new limestone patio the stormwater storage system provides the water source for watering plants and for the unique water feature that meanders through the garden area and patio.

The limestone patio and the water feature uses an intricate stone work and fine craftsmanship. In the water feature, stored rainwater is pumped up to the surface and bubbles from the client’s antique sharpening stones to meander down a narrow cobbled stream through the patio and back to the storage system. The water feature provides a tranquil vision and quiet respite from the stresses of the day.

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Indian Creek Parkway Maintenance

Amber Shesler — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 20:28:57 +0000

Previously a concrete drainage corridor, Indian Creek has been deconstructed and naturalized. It has been restored to a series of basins and linear infiltration swales composed of wet mesic prairie vegetation native to the area. The system was designed to slow the flow of storm water runoff and improve the area’s water holding capacity. Deep rooted native plants reduce flooding potential and improve water quality as the storm water infiltrates the ground layer.

Marek’s involvement with Indian Creek began in 2007 with construction work, during which we removed a concrete channel liner, built a retaining wall, and revegetated the area with a variety of native plants and trees. We then worked with MMSD to develop a comprehensive vegetative maintenance plan and a seeding plan. Our stewardship team implemented this plans under several contracts starting in 2008 under MMSD and most recently in 2015-present with the Village of Fox Point. Along with mowing and selective weeding, we’ve conducted several prescribed burns to reduce the cattail population. Cattail was further controlled with the use of selective herbicide treatment through 2018. Invasive species control was expanded in 2018 to include mitigation efforts for cutleaf teasel (Dipsacus laciniatus) and glossy buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula).

Native vegetation cover has become visibly higher and more diverse throughout the project area. Dominant native species include cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), water plantain (Alisma sp.), blue flag iris (Iris versicolor), goldenrod species (Solidago spp.), aster species (Aster spp.) and rush species (Schoenoplectus spp., Scirpus spp.).

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Harambee + Riverworks Green Infrastructure Best Management Practices Plan

Marek — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 16:35:13 +0000

Groundwork Milwaukee received a Wisconsin Coastal Management Program Grant from Wisconsin Department of Administration to develop a Green Infrastructure Plan for the northern Harambee neighborhood and Riverworks Business Improvement Districts area. Groundwork Milwaukee hired Marek Landscaping, LLC to develop this plan, which identifies potential sites for green infrastructure, describes the practices that are appropriate for this area, and prioritizes their implementation.

The plan aims to meet the goals set forth by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewage District’s 2035 Vision document by utilizing distributed, localized stormwater practices to capture the first 0.5 inch rainfall, reduce flooding pressures, and prepare the City of Milwaukee for larger and more frequent storms expected from climate change.

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Century City Stormwater Planning

Marek — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 03:38:51 +0000

Century City is an urban industrial revitalization project in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Many public and private stakeholder organizations have been involved in re-imagining this former site of major manufacturers such as Tower Automotive as a place for businesses of the future to flourish. Marek Landscaping has been hired as a consultant to provide stormwater, green infrastructure, and circulation design, focusing on a pedestrian greenway along Hopkins Street. We also provided sizing and quantities of concrete and brick that can be reclaimed during site demolition and used in future stormwater infrastructure construction.

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Bradford Beach Stormwater Infiltration Basins

Marek — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 03:38:44 +0000

Marek Landscaping provided design and construction services to build six infiltration basins with native plantings along the west edge of Bradford Beach. The basins intercept stormwater runoff from Lincoln Memorial Drive and surrounding land and allow the water to infiltrate naturally before entering Lake Michigan.

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Stormwater Pond Stabilization & Revegetation

Marek — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 03:51:07 +0000

Marek Landscaping was hired by an engineering firm to provide landscape plans, construction site erosion controls, details, specifications, and renderings for re-vegetating the ponds and adjacent areas. Native plants and a vegetated Filtrexx armoring system was used stabilization of pond shorelines using for the Ridgefield Homeowners Association, located in Wheeling, Illinois.

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