Milwaukee's Ambitious Plan to Combat Flooding with Nature-Based Solutions

Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District's Innovative Flood Mitigation Strategy

The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) is taking a bold step towards mitigating flood risks by embracing reforestation, wetlands restoration, and other nature-based solutions. MMSD has developed a comprehensive roadmap for scaling up these projects, which has been positively analyzed by Triple-I, a leading insurance institute. Triple-I's analysis, based on its Community Resilience Ratings' quantitative methodology, suggests that such an effort would significantly enhance resilience across various metrics.

A Decade-Long Plan to Transform Milwaukee's Landscape

In a recent report titled 'A Blueprint to Scale Up Urban Reforestation and Wetland Restoration in Underserved Communities Across the Greater Milwaukee Area,' MMSD outlines its ambitious plan for the next decade. This includes planting 6 million trees, restoring 4,000 acres of wetlands, capturing an estimated 350 million gallons of stormwater with trees, and storing up to an estimated 1.5 million gallons of floodwater in every acre of wetland. These measures are expected to significantly reduce flood risks in the region.

Funding and Community Involvement in Flood Mitigation

To finance these extensive projects, MMSD is exploring various funding avenues, including federal and state funding sources, public-private partnerships, and instruments like environmental impact bonds (EIB). EIBs use private capital for investments in environmental projects and are repaid based on the project's success in achieving its goals. Additionally, MMSD is emphasizing the importance of community-based catastrophe insurance programs, which can incorporate parametric insurance. Unlike traditional indemnity insurance, parametric structures cover risks without the complications of sending adjusters to assess damage after an event. Instead of paying for damage that has occurred, parametric insurance pays out if certain agreed-upon conditions are met.

For readers interested in similar initiatives, it's crucial to stay informed about funding opportunities and community involvement strategies. Engaging with local governments and organizations can provide valuable insights and potential collaboration opportunities. Additionally, understanding the benefits and limitations of parametric insurance can help in making informed decisions about risk management strategies.