Milwaukee Riverkeeper launches new phase in efforts to remove the Estabrook Dam - Radio Ads, January 28, 2016
New efforts encourage Milwaukee County residents to contact the County Board; includes radio and digital advertising push.


"It's been really frustrating:" Should it stay, or go? Strong opinions on both sides of Estabrook Dam - Fox 6, February 22, 2015

"It really should be a no-brainer. It’s better for the river. It’s better for fish passages, for water quality to remove it. It decreases the flooding potential."

The County Board's Anti-Environmental Boondoggle - Urban Milwaukee, February 17, 2015

"There’s a smell of hypocrisy emanating from the Milwaukee County Board and its decision to repair rather than tear down the Estabrook Dam. The decision will needlessly cost the taxpayers millions. It will also stand in the way of the remarkably successful, ongoing effort to return the Milwaukee River to its natural borders, which is broadly supported by the environmental community. Yet here is this liberal-leaning board, led the self-proclaimed “Queen of Green,” Board chairwoman Marina Dimitrijevic voting for the un-green, un-environmental option. Why?"

Removing Estabrook Dam is best for taxpayers and the Milwaukee RiverMilwaukee Journal Sentinel, February 16, 2015

"Take the Estabrook Dam on the Milwaukee River. Discussing a vote earlier this month on whether to repair the dam, Broderick told Journal Sentinel reporter Don Behm that the dam is a costly albatross for county taxpayers. Paying for repairs "is throwing good money away," he said.

Broderick is right. If the dam is repaired instead of removed, taxpayers across the county will be paying for something that benefits only a few constituents who live along the river upstream from the dam. And, ask any expert or conservationist or angler, dams generally hurt river systems, not help them. The trend nationally is to take them down."

Abele vetoes board vote on Estabrook Dam's repairsMilwaukee Journal Sentinel, February 13, 2015

"Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele on Friday vetoed a Feb. 5 County Board action to fund up to $1.6 million in repairs of the Estabrook Dam on the Milwaukee River.

Without public notice last week, Supervisor Theodore Lipscomb successfully inserted the dam repair project into a list of 2015 major capital projects that was approved by the board's finance committee."

County Board votes for Estabrook Dam repairs; Abele veto likely Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, February 6, 2015

"Broderick described the dam as a costly albatross for county taxpayers. Paying for repairs "is throwing good money away," he said.

If state and federal environmental regulators require the county to construct a fish passage around the dam at the time repairs are made, the cost would increase nearly $900,000 to an estimated $2.5 million, according to a county consultant.

Costs of operating and maintaining the dam would add an additional $2.6 million to the cost of keeping the dam in place over the next 20 years, according to the consultant."

DNR gives Milwaukee County 2 years to repair or remove Estabrook DamMilwaukee Journal Sentinel, January 13, 2015

"Though Milwaukee County has repeatedly missed state deadlines since 2012 for repairing or removing the Estabrook Dam on the Milwaukee River, the Department of Natural Resources has granted the county two more years to get something done.

The artificial pond, an impoundment of water that would be held back by closed gates, must be drained to reduce risk of dam failure or other structural problems, pending repairs or removal, according to DNR officials."

Proposed removal of Estabrook Dam in doubt for 2015Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, December 9, 2014

"Not only is the option to tear the dam down the most environmentally friendly and sustainable, it's also expected to save $3.5 million over 20 years, money that will be better spent improving parks across the county," Abele said in a statement.

Removal would restore a more natural, free-flowing river and eliminate the accumulation of muck and debris upstream of the dam, according to the environmental report.

Abele's savings projection is based on the lesser cost of razing the dam, a difference of $800,000 from renovation. And the repair option comes with the additional cost of operation and maintenance, estimated at $160,000 per year.

Park leaders to recommend razing Estabrook DamMilwaukee Journal Sentinel, September 4, 2014

"Milwaukee County parks officials have signaled for the first time their preference on what should be done with the aging Estabrook Dam: Tear it down.

John Dargle Jr., director of the parks system, said his department will formally recommend demolishing the dam on the Milwaukee River."

Judge rules that the Estabrook Dam is a public nuisanceMilwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 24, 2012

"The Department of Natural Resources has said the dam can't be placed into operation - and the pool filled - until the sediments are removed.

Industrial pollutants, including polychlorinated biphenyls, have been accumulating near the dam for decades. The pollutants are believed to have come from industrial sources upstream in the Lincoln Creek watershed."