Kenosha County board approves funding, land acquisition to advance Pike River South Branch restoration

Kenosha County supervisors on March 4 voted to move forward on the Pike River South Branch restoration project, approving an initial borrowing authorization of up to $2.5 million for waterway projects and authorizing acquisition of properties tied to the project.

The measures came after roughly an hour of public comment from residents, local conservation leaders and university representatives who urged the board to approve the work to reduce erosion, improve water quality and restore habitat. "I encourage you to vote in favor of this resolution to support the final leg of the Pike River restoration project to protect Lake Michigan and finish the job that Mount Pleasant started," said Nancy Washburn, trustee of the Village of Mount Pleasant and an abutting property owner to the Pike River.

Supporters described ecological and community benefits. John Scalbeck, professor of geoscience at the University of Wisconsin–Parkside, said restoring the South Branch will reduce downstream impacts across the Great Lakes watershed. Phil Hirsch, vice chancellor for finance and administration at…