Rotarian John Schindler, Village of Elm Grove Trustee, shared with the Elmbrook Rotary Club his involvement in the Underwood Creek Daylighting Project. On 12 May he also discussed other duties and village related projects including the Chair of the Public Works Committee...
John attended the University of Wisconsin where he studied Hydrogeology. Upon graduation, he was hired by the US Geological Survey and served in the Survey Water Resource Division. The Division researched water energy, how nutrients and energy in water are stored, and how they move through a watershed. He worked at the Trout Lake Station in Boulder Junction, WI, focusing on stream and groundwater interaction. John was also a member of the Antarctica Team tasked with studying glacial melt water streams, the most pristine streams in the world.
In 1997 and 1998, the Village experienced 100- year and 300-year floods causing loss of life and major property damage. Looking to the future, the Village pursued a major multi-year flood mitigation project. After completion in 2005, the Wisconsin DNR advised that the current creek tunnel flowing through downtown could not be repaired, and mandated that the Underwood Creek be daylighted for additional flood retention. After 18 years and a partial grant funding 725K for engineering/design, property acquisition, and stream restoration/development, the project will commence in 2024. The daylighting should be completed in approximately one year.
John’s presentation highlighted the benefits of daylighting as well as the design considerations and engineering plans. He reviewed the ecological makeup of a healthy, thriving waterway and how the food chain provided by the various strata in an open creeks. This allows for a variety of microorganisms and small and large fish to thrive. One goal is to have northern pike and salmon from Lake Michigan inhabit the creek.
The plan is to start construction in 2024 with a one-year timetable for completion. The project will feature open green spaces along each side of the creek, walking paths and seating areas. The former creek tunnel will be utilized for surrounding buildings and some parking lot storm water runoff.
Thank you, John. For more information regarding the project, visit the Village of Elm Grove website, www.elmgrove.org.
