After historic flooding last year, MMSD pledges $96M in fast tracked projects

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After historic flooding in the Milwaukee area in August 2025, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District has prioritized a handful of flood management projects worth $96 million.

Storms in August 2025 caused more than $200 million in damage to private property and flooded streets, homes and businesses. The governor declared a state of emergency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency has paid disaster assistance to thousands of homeowners for flood damage.

Rainfall totaled more than 14 inches in some parts of the city of Milwaukee and MMSD’s deep tunnel filled to its maximum, said Kevin Shafer, executive director of MMSD, in a statement. Two water reclamation facilities operated at or above their capacity for hours after the storm.

“While it is hard to imagine that it could have been worse, it could have been,” Shafer said. “We are fortunate that the Milwaukee region has been investing in flood management for over 30 years.”

The district has been working on flood management projects since 1995, he added.

As of publication, there were still 1,405 buildings in the regional floodplain. The MMSD’s latest Vision Forward plan will accelerate remaining flood management projects, with $96 million worth of projects in the district’s 2026-35 capital improvement plan.

The project areas will add 220 million gallons of flood storage around local rivers, helping keep flood water away from buildings.

Key projects include:

• West Basin Stormwater Management: The project is designed to hold 31 million gallons and reduce flooding up to a 100-year storm. The project will start in 2027, ahead of the original 2029 schedule.
• Jackson Park & Kinnickinnic River Project: This project will increase the park’s storage from 30 million gallons to 80 million gallons. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, four years earlier than planned.
• Wilson Park Flood Storage: This project will hold around 70 million gallons and will be prioritized to start construction in 2031, four years earlier than the original 2035 schedule.
• Wilson Park Creek Reach 3: This project is already two-thirds completed as crews work to connect the basin, connect the river, and rebuild bridges on Fifth and Sixth streets. Final construction is planned for 2031 and 2032.