Work Continues in earnest on the Little Manitowoc River Coastal Wetland Restoration Project. Jim Kettler is with Lakeshore Natural Resources Partnership who’s partnering with the City of Manitowoc and many outdoor and wildlife organizations to restore the area to its once pristine habitat which is critical for the existence of migratory and nesting birds along with spawning fish and plants. Kettler says on June 12th 2008—Manitowoc experienced an extreme storm event that saw the Little Manitowoc River rise about 4-and-a-half feet in less than 24 hours to reach record levels.
Kettler says since that date the Little Manitowoc Pond between Waldo Blvd and Maritime Drive became an exposed mud flat that struggles to hold water.
The portion of the river north of Waldo up to Reed Avenue doesn’t fill to its banks and no longer reaches the fish hatchery at the zoo. Kettler says hydraulic dredging should be finished in the next week or two.
The goal is to have work completed by September 30th with a long term goal—
The City has hired a consulting/environment engineering firm to help develop a plan to restore the river.
