RiverKeeper Annual Report2014-SinglePageFinal-CS5

ANNUAL
REPORT
2013
2014
1845 N Farwell Avenue • Suite 100
Milwaukee, WI 53202
www.milwaukeeriverkeeper.org
414 • 287 • 0207
Jennifer
Bolger Breceda
Dear Friend of the Rivers,
We are pleased to publish our 2014 Annual Report. It was another very busy
year full of exciting work and progress towards fishable and swimmable rivers.
Highlights from the year are included in this report as well as descriptions of
many of our projects and achievements toward protecting and improving water
quality in the Milwaukee River Basin.
In May of 2014, Jennifer Bolger Breceda left the Board of Directors of
Milwaukee Riverkeeper, and her 15 year private practice in law, to become the
Executive Director. She is grateful to the Board who had faith that she could
lead this important organization and make a real difference in our community.
Milwaukee Riverkeeper is deeply grateful to all the people who helped make
2014 a success including our members, sponsors, donors, volunteers, partners, friends, and staff, and for all the countless ways and hours our supporters
gave to our rivers. Thank you for your support and commitment to Milwaukee
Riverkeeper. We look forward to working with you towards cleaner and healthier rivers in 2015!
With Much Gratitude,
Jennifer Bolger Breceda
Executive Director
Mustafa Emir
Board President
Mustafa Emir
Statement of Financial Position
Assets – Sept. 30, 2014
2013-2014 Sources of Funding
Cash and Cash Equivalents
$177,619
Grants Receivable
$131,960
Rent Security Deposit
$1,816
Fixed Assets, Net
Beneficial Interest In Assets Held By Others
Total Assets
$382,360
$2,776
$4,637
$4,648
$26,498
$37,507
2% Interest & Other
2% Event Income
9% Corporations
13% Individuals
$52,189
$63,020
22% Government
Grants
$147,500
52% Foundation
Liabilities
Accounts Payable
Payroll Liabilities
Deferred Revenue
Total Liabilities
$11,435
$33,612
$1,200
$46,274
2013-2014 Use of Funds
Net Assets
Unrestricted
Temporarily Restricted Permanently
Restricted
$22,434
$261,490
$52,189
Total Liabilities and
Net Assets
$382,360
Total Net Assets
$336,113
$323,204
90% Program
$17,426
5% Fundraising
$18,004
5% Administration
2014 Achievements
Advocating for Healthy Waterways
In 2014, Milwaukee Riverkeeper remained the leading voice and advocate for clean water in the Milwaukee River Basin. We worked with
many communities to identify strategies to meet nutrient water quality goals and pollution reduction plans. We continued to review
permits for any entity discharging into our local rivers or developing along their shores. In 2014, we also continued to fight for removal of
the Estabrook Dam as the cheapest and most environmentally friendly option. In the Menomonee River Watershed, we partnered with
Southeastern Wisconsin Watersheds Trust and local municipalities to find and fix sewage leaks into our stormwater system, and identify
opportunities for green infrastructure and stormwater improvement projects. In the Kinnickinnic River, we worked with many partners
to find opportunities for water quality improvements as part of large-scale flood management efforts.
With our rivers' strong connection to the Great Lakes we also advocated for policies and measures to protect this resource. We advocated
against a proposed nuclear waste repository along Lake Huron, stronger rules for crude oil transport over and under the Lakes through
barges and pipelines, and implementation of Asian Carp and invasive species controls. We are also leading efforts to watchdog
Waukesha’s Great Lakes diversion proposal, which would be the first proposed diversion under the Great Lakes Compact.
Measuring Water Quality
Our citizen water quality monitoring program provided us with quality data to help us
further our mission and focus our work to best serve our rivers. The monitoring program
grew to over 92 volunteers testing the water at over 110 monitoring sites. In addition
to testing for dissolved oxygen, water temperature, turbidity, pH, stream flow, and
macroinvertebrates, volunteers also monitored phosphorus and chloride, which are major
impairments to water quality in our watersheds. This data allowed us to publish our 4th
Annual River Report Card, summarizing water quality in the watersheds.
We also continued to work with Dr. Sandra McClellan's
lab at the UWM-School of Freshwater Sciences to
monitor hotspots of human bacteria pollution from
our stormwater systems. We are also working with
Menomonee Valley Partners to measure the quality
of stormwater running through treatment systems in
Three Bridges and Stormwater Park. We identified local
streams that have chloride levels that are both acutely
and chronically toxic to fish and aquatic life.
Improving Fish Habitat
In 2014, we received funds to create designs for several
culvert retrofits and a larger scale restoration project
to address re-occurring woody debris blockages in
the Menomonee River. We have been involved on
advisory committees for several MMSD-led projects,
including removal of concrete channel on the lower
Menomonee River and removal of five “low flow”
barriers in Hoyt Park. We are also working with private landowners to educate them
about fish passage issues and opportunities for habitat restoration throughout the
Menomonee River Watershed.
Renewing Rivers
More than 3,500 volunteers attended our 19th Annual Spring River Cleanup, removing
trash and debris from over 50 sites throughout the Milwaukee River Basin. Some may
call 2014 the year of brewery cleanups, as we partnered with Leinenkugels, Great Lakes,
and Deschutes Breweries on other successful river cleanups as well. We also partnered
with over 10 other groups to conduct river cleanups and tree planting activities
at various sites throughout the Basin. Riverkeeper was also proud to partner with
Lakefront Brewery to conduct our first rain barrel workshop (converting and painting
used sorghum barrels to rain barrels and creating art along the way!).
Education
We attended many public events and educated people about pollution solutions, how
to enjoy rivers, and other timely water topics. We educated our Senior Water Advocates
Network (SWAN) to advocate for river protection. We hosted several screenings of
DamNation to highlight our work to remove Estabrook Dam and educate the public on
how dams harm rivers and become obsolete obstructions.
Getting Wet!
2014 did not pass by without some fun on the water too. We connected the community
to our rivers, hosted several successful paddles with Milwaukee Kayak Company, and
co-hosted the 9th annual Milky Moonlight Paddle with River Alliance.
Our Mission
and Vision
Our mission is to protect, improve
and advocate for water quality,
riparian wildlife habitat, and sound
land management in the Milwaukee,
Menomonee, and Kinnickinnic River
Watersheds.
We envision a future in which people
from all walks of life can enjoy the
healthy waterways of the Milwaukee
River Basin.
Milwaukee Riverkeeper is a licensed
member of the Waterkeeper Alliance,
an international coalition ensuring
clean water and strong communities.
We are a licensed 501(c)3 non-profit
organization with the U.S. Internal
Revenue Service, and a charitable
licensed organization through the
State of Wisconsin.
Mustafa Emir, PhD, PE
President
Eric Vogel
Vice President
Demaris Kenwood
Secretary
Lilith Fowler
Treasurer
Jennifer Bolger Breceda, J.D.
Executive Director
Brian Adams
Chris Daood
Demaris Kenwood
Interim Administrator
Susan LeVine
Cheryl Nenn, M.S.
Riverkeeper
Francisco Martorell
Anne Vogel
Joe Rath, M.A.
Water Quality Specialist
David Wolfson
Christina Taddy, M.P.A
Development & Operations
ManagerCoo
Zachery Driscoll
Cleanup Coorrdinator
designed by Eileen Phillips
We are indebted to the many individuals and organizations who made donations in fiscal year 2013-2014. Due to space limitations,
we regret that we cannot list them all.
$50,000 and up
Great Lakes Restoration Intitative
The Joyce Foundation
$10,000 and up
Forest County Potawatomi
Foundation
Fund For Lake Michigan
Helen Bader Foundation
Wisconsin Costal Management
$5,000 and up
Lux Foundation, Inc.
Patagonia
Christine Rundblad in honor of
Karen Schapiro
$500 and up
Christopher & Jennifer Daood
Mustafa & Laura Emir
Erehwon
David Gilbert
Glendale Woman's Club
Kapco, Inc.
Demaris & Gontran Kenwood
Brian & Sue Lanser
Margaret McGuire
Karen Schapiro & Douglas Frazer
Dean & JoEllyn Schultz
Ann Terwilliger
Mario Valentinelli
$250 and up
Richard A. & Joan F. Adboo
Jennifer Bolger & Enrique Breceda
$1,000 and up
Michael Briselli & Jeannee Sacken
American Transmission Co.
Carolyn Edwards
Bob Boucher & Mary Washburne
Lilith & Lincoln Fowler
Ralph Bronner
Jodi Habush Sinykin & Dan Sinykin
Community Shares of Greater
Herbert H. Kohl Charities
Milwaukee
JoDee Kuhl
Lynn & Marc Gorelick
Francisco & Elizabeth Martorell
Gilbane
John and Shirley Jeffrey Fund at the Pamela Pletcher & Robert French
Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren
Greater Milwaukee Foundation
Kevin Stone & Marion Livingstone
Leinenkugel Brewing Co.
Jim & Marie Seder
MillerCoors
Virginia Linabury & Robert Welker
Natural Resource Technology, Inc.
Matt & Angela Wolter
Robert W. Baird & Co. Foundation
Eric Vogel & Megan Holbrook
$100 and up
Susan Winecki
Dr. Margo Anderson
Wisconsin Energy Foundation
Mike & Michele Arney
David & Diane Wolfson
Unitarian Universalist Church West
Nancy Aten & Dan Collins
John Bahr
Kathleen Bates
Dorothy Beck
Ann & Bill Beverly
Doug Bower & Josie Cusma
Peter McAvoy & Jacqueline
Boynton
Mark & Cheryl Brickman
Christy Brooks
Donald and Betty Carlson
Shelly & James Culea
Kathy & John DeCarlo
Robert & Kristin Fewel
Barbara Fuldner
Darcy & Larry Gill
Paul & Wendy Greeney
Beth & Dan Handle
Richard & Myrna Hartle
Margarete Harvey
Scott & Lorrie Heins
Dave Hetzel
Lucille Rosenberg
Charles & Mary Kamps
Juli Kaufmann
Renee Kubesh & Thomas Morely
Sally Kuzma & Aaron Godfrey
Terry Leahy
Thomas Littelmann
Matt Luce
Kevin Mackey & Susan LeVine
Lou & Mariann Maris
Janet Matuszak
Rachel McGraw & Patrick Brady
Laura Meka
Mercury Marine
Beryl & John Mulhern
Chrysa Murphy
Tim & Ellen Murphy
Donna Neal
Laura Peck
Warren & Dorothy Phinney
Scott Hess
Steven Janowski
Avigail Rubin
Wendy Porterfield
Theofilos Rafaelidys
Ellen Redeker & Steven Harvey
Colleen Reilly
Pat Ruetz
Max Samson
Tim & Jan Schafer
Beverly Schwabe
Scott Silet
Dale Snider
Jeffrey Stapleton
Streich Family Foundation
Craig Trewartha
Paul Vandeveld
Andrea Velic
Anne & Fred Vogel
Erika Voss
Waukesha County Environmental
Action League
David Wenstrup
Greg & Jean Wilde
David Zalewski
Mike Zebrowski
Linda Zetley & Randall Rowlett