Over 9,000 Native Plants at the Port of Milwaukee

August 12, 2026

Last fall, our Pewaukee restoration crew installed over 9,000 native plugs as part of a transportation corridor restoration project. These plantings were designed to complement the site's bioretention features, improving stormwater management, stabilizing soils, and creating valuable habitat within a highly constrained interchange.

Now in the first full growing season, our 2026 maintenance program is underway. Our crews are monitoring native plug and seed establishment, managing invasive species, and providing the care needed to ensure long-term success.

The results so far have been exciting…we're seeing an excellent response from the native plugs throughout the bioretention basins, with healthy establishment and strong growth across much of the site. It's rewarding to see last year's installation taking hold and beginning to deliver the ecological and stormwater benefits these systems were designed to provide.

We're looking forward to continuing the next several years of stewardship and watching these plantings mature into resilient native communities.

Post Credit: Jenny Grimes