Board approves MOU with Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership for Valley Creek outreach

The Port Washington Board of Public Works on an unrecorded voice vote approved a memorandum of understanding with Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership to deliver education and outreach connected to the Valley Creek restoration project.

The MOU covers community education, student field trips, baseline biological sampling and creation of a project story map as part of design work funded through a federal grant. The city’s staff said the education and outreach line is “100% covered by the grant,” and that contracting with LNRP carries no cost to the city’s general fund.

Amy Lentz, acting executive director of Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership, described the group’s work with academic partners and students. “We’ve been working with the School of Freshwater Science down in Milwaukee to do some kind of initial stream testing,” she said, and noted plans to hire an intern for biology and fish studies and to produce newsletter and PR materials. Rob (city staff) said the outreach component is a critical part of the Valley Creek grant and that the MOU continues work begun under the earlier design phase.

Board members moved and seconded the staff recommendation; the chair called for the voice vote and the motion carried.

The agreement funds education, baseline monitoring and outreach tied to the 60–90% design phase of the Valley Creek restoration. Lentz said the work aims to both inform engineering design and to provide environmental education and job-training opportunities for area students. The board did not add conditions to the contract at the meeting.

Officials said the story map and student research will supply measurable data required by the grant, and the MOU is intended to streamline outreach across current and future grant phases.