Grant revenue is critical to our mission and directly supports the implementation of RRF's mission through:
- Conservation – costs associated with land purchase, land protection planning as Milwaukee’s urban rivers land trust
- Restoration – removal of harmful invasive plant species and planting of native trees and plants on our conserved properties, improving habitat and water quality
- Education - Ecological Restoration summer crew – “Earn & Learn” program participants, River Quests and volunteer engagement
- Public Access – trails and plans to connect communities and people to the river valley
Grants awarded to support our urban conservation, river protection efforts include:
- The Joyce Foundation $210,000 (over three years)
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources $75,000
- Helen Bader Foundation $20,000
- Wisconsin Energy Corporation Foundation $10,000
- Forest County Potawatomi Community Foundation $7,000
Recent Grant News:
Fund for Lake Michigan awards $65,000 to RRF for Restoration Planning at Granville County Dog Park
April 30, 2012--RRF was recently awarded a grant for $65,000 from the Fund for Lake Michigan to conduct initial planning, feasibility, and outreach for a streambank stabilization project at Granville county Park. Work will include coordination of stakeholder meetings, outreach to a diverse group of users, and facilitation of planning and design work for implementation of streambank restoration. While RRF is the lead on this project, key partners include Milwaukee County Parks and Residents for Off-Leash Milwaukee Parks (ROMP).
Granville County Park, nestled between W. Good Hope Rd and HWY 145, is a 26-acre off-leash dog park that runs along the upper reaches of the Menomonee River. After almost a decade of heavy traffic by dogs and their owners, the streambank is in poor condition from heavy erosion, resulting in the loss of an estimated 200 cubic yards of fine-grained sediments over the lateral distances of up to 30 feet.
The Fund for Lake Michigan (the Fund) was established in conjunction with the resolution in 2008 of disputes concerning the Oak Creek Power Plant and Elm Road Generating Station in southeastern Wisconsin. The agreement establishing the Fund provided for payments of four million dollars each year from 2011 through 2035 to fund projects to address, reduce and mitigate water quality impacts in Lake Michigan. The mission of the Fund for Lake Michigan is to support efforts, and in particular those in southeastern Wisconsin, that enhance the health of Lake Michigan, its shoreline and tributary river systems for the benefit of the people, plants and animals that depend upon the system for water, recreation and commerce.
Greater Milwaukee Foundation grant improves public access to Milwaukee River corridorGrant part of nearly $310,000 awarded during second quarter competitive grantmaking
Milwaukee, WI – June 29, 2012 – A $45,000 grant to the River Revitalization Foundation will help its work toward closing a critical gap that exists in a 13-mile shared use trail within the Milwaukee River greenway.
The grant supports the construction of one mile of trail along a parcel of land just north of Capitol Drive that was a former landfill. The land runs along the site of the Milwaukee Area Technical College’s solar voltaic farm. The money will fund habitat restoration, public education and support student and volunteer work crews.
“This one-mile trail is a critical link in the Milwaukee River corridor,” said Kathryn Dunn, the Foundation’s vice president of Community Investment. “Once complete, the entire 13-mile loop will be an important asset for residents throughout the greater Milwaukee area.”
