Waukesha Water Diversion EIS
In 2019, the DNR completed an environmental impact statement (EIS) on the City of Waukesha's proposed diversion of water from Lake Michigan with return flow via the Root River. For more information on the proposed diversion, including application materials and DNR approval documents, see City of Waukesha Diversion.
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
The DNR used the EIS process to analyze and disclose the anticipated environmental and socioeconomic effects of the proposed diversion and alternatives, in accordance with the Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act (WEPA). On Dec. 13, 2019, the DNR released a Final EIS and issued a WEPA Compliance Determination including a detailed description of the EIS process.
| EIS Document | Date Released |
|---|---|
| Final Environmental Impact Statement | December 2019 |
| Revised Draft EIS | August 2019 |
| Preliminary Final EIS | January 2016 |
| Draft EIS | June 2015 |
Public Input
Public input was elicited throughout the DNR's review of the City of Waukesha's proposed diversion, beginning with public scoping of the EIS in 2010, followed by five additional public comment periods and eight public hearings.
2019 Public Comment Periods and Hearings
The DNR held a public comment period on the City of Waukesha's application for a wetland and waterways permit for the proposed project, and the DNR's revised draft EIS. This included a public hearing held on August 20, 2019, in Waukesha. The DNR considered all Written Comments and all testimony provided during the hearing, before issuing the permit. For a summary of the comments received and the DNR's responses, see DNR Response to Comments.
The DNR held a separate public comment period on the City of Waukesha's application for a Wisconsin pollutant discharge elimination system (WPDES) permit for the discharge of treated wastewater to the Root River. This included a public hearing held on October 17, 2019, in Waukesha. The DNR considered all Written Comments and all testimony provided during the hearing, before reissuing the permit. A summary of the comments received and the DNR's responses is included in the DNR's Notice of Final Determination.
2015 Public Comment Period and Hearings
The DNR held a public comment period on the department's Draft Technical Review of the Diversion Application and its draft EIS. This included three public hearings.
| Hearing Location | Date | Hearing Transcript |
|---|---|---|
| Waukesha | Aug. 17, 2015 | Waukesha Transcript [Audio] |
| Milwaukee | Aug. 18, 2015 | Milwaukee Transcript [Audio] |
| Racine | Aug. 18, 2015 | Racine Transcript [Audio] |
The DNR considered all written comments (below) and all testimony provided during the three hearings, before releasing the Final Technical Review and preliminary final EIS. See the DNR's Response to Comments on the Draft Technical Review and Response to Comments on the Draft EIS.
2013 Public Comment Period
The DNR held a public comment period on the City of Waukesha's updated application for a Great Lakes diversion. To view the application materials, see City of Waukesha Diversion.
2011 Public Comment Period and Hearings
The DNR held a public comment period on the City of Waukesha's initial application for a Great Lakes diversion. This included three public hearings held in Waukesha, Wauwatosa and Sturtevant on July 26, 27 and 28, 2011. For a summary of the comments received and the DNR's responses, see Response to Comments.
2010 Public Scoping of the EIS
In early 2010, the DNR announced that it was initiating an EIS process for the City of Waukesha's proposed diversion of Great Lakes water and requested comments on a draft list of topics comprising the proposed scope of the EIS. See the Scoping Comments received and the DNR's revised List of Topics.