Ozaukee County Land & Water Management

10/06/2026

Is there construction happening near you? You might spot pieces of fabric underneath the storm drains on a street. When it rains, dirt from construction sites can be picked up via runoff and flow into local waterways, causing harmful sediment pollution. To prevent debris from entering storm drains, mechanisms such as temporary fabric filters are placed under storm drains during construction projects. These fabric filters will be removed once construction is complete.

09/30/2026

Reminder to claim your free tree! The deadline to register is fast-approaching!

09/24/2026

Ozaukee County Land and Water is proud to be a part of this exciting event: Branching Out for Ulao Creek!

Residents within the Ulao Creek Watershed are encouraged to register for a FREE Wisconsin native tree. However, any resident in a qualifying zip code is eligible! Click the link below to find out if you're eligible.

Native trees help reduce stormwater runoff and pollution entering our waterways and sewers—supporting cleaner rivers, lakes, and communities.

How to Participate:
Register by: October 5, 2026
Reserve your tree: kb.jniplants.com/big-plant
Tree pickup: Saturday, October 10, 2026, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Pickup location: 410 S. Spring St., Port Washington

***One free tree per eligible household, while supplies last. Additional trees may be available for discounted purchase.***

Help keep our rivers and lakes clean—plant a tree in your yard!

09/23/2026

A huge thank-you to everyone who made the trip out to join us and see rotational sheep grazing in action! It was a great event filled with good conversation, fresh ideas, and plenty of questions about how sheep can help manage orchard vegetation while keeping the operation productive. We are especially grateful to our host, Old Orchard Farm, for opening the gates, sharing their experience, and giving us an up-close look at this innovative practice. Thanks again to everyone who attended and helped make the day such a success!

09/08/2026

Leaves are rich in nutrients including phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium. When leaves are left on top of storm drains, these nutrients leach out into stormwater runoff, creating ‘phosphorus tea’. Storm drains then transport the nutrient heavy water directly into our rivers and lakes, often causing unwanted algae blooms that harm aquatic ecosystems and interfere with outdoor recreational activities. Stop brewing phosphorus tea by keeping storm drains clear of leaves this fall. Visit www.respectourwaters.org to learn about leaf management alternatives and take action by committing to keep a storm drain clean at www.adoptyourdrain.com.

09/01/2026

Ozaukee County is once again monitoring streams throughout the county using Water Action Volunteer (WAV) metrics! Through continued monitoring, we hope to establish meaningful baseline data that demonstrates how conservation practices and the work being completed across the landscape are contributing to improved water quality over time. This effort is an exciting opportunity to connect community members with the health of their local waterways, and we encourage anyone interested in monitoring a stream as part of the program to reach out and get involved!

08/28/2026

08/05/2026

Only rain belongs down the drain! If any substance other than water enters a storm drain or local waterway, it is considered an illicit discharge. Signs may include an unusual odor, cloudy water, foam, suds, oil sheens, and/or waterflow during dry weather. If you notice these signs, contact your local Department of Public Works (DPW) to report the spill. If your community does not have a DPW, please call the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ spill hotline at 1-800-943-0003. Visit www.respectourwaters.org to learn more.

We all live in a Watershed. Contrary to the name, a watershed includes both land and water and is named for the waterbody into which the rainfall hitting that area of land will flow into and affect. Southeastern Wisconsin rivers, lakes and streams face major challenges from non-point pollution and a...

07/06/2026

Enjoying your swimming pool this summer? Be stormwater smart if draining an outdoor pool in the fall. Chlorine keeps your pool clean, but it is toxic to fish and wildlife if it enters our waterways. Follow these simple tips to protect our waterways when draining your pool.

We all live in a Watershed. Contrary to the name, a watershed includes both land and water and is named for the waterbody into which the rainfall hitting that area of land will flow into and affect. Southeastern Wisconsin rivers, lakes and streams face major challenges from non-point pollution and a...

06/22/2026

Did you know this week (June 22nd - June 28th) is Pollinator Week?! 🐛

It's a great time to recognize the important role that bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, hummingbirds, and other pollinators play in our environment and food supply. Pollinators help many flowers, fruits, and vegetables grow, and supporting local pollinators is an important way to protect healthy ecosystems here in our community. Residents can help by planting native flowers that bloom from spring through fall, avoiding or reducing pesticide use, and providing clean, shallow water sources. It is also especially helpful to include host plants for butterflies, which give caterpillars the food they need to grow. Examples of some butterfly host plants include: milkweed for monarchs, dill and parsley for black swallowtails, violets for fritillaries, and oak trees, which support many butterfly and moth species. Even small actions in home gardens, yards, and public spaces can make a meaningful difference for our pollinators!

Happy Pollinator Week! 🦋