- Studies! The first step to addressing the storm water management needs in Brown Deer was to figure out exactly what we were dealing with and how to best manage the conditions. The Village contracted with RUST, now EarthTech, Environmental Consultants to review stormwater management conditions in the Village, consider options to improve the conditions, and prepare a formal Stormwater Management Plan. The Stormwater Management Plan was completed in 2000.

- In 2000, the Village of Brown Deer, in cooperation with other North Shore communities, was issued a Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.  A requirement of that permit is to submit an annual report to determine progress on the implementation of the storm water management program.  You may review complete reports (including attachments) at the Village Hall, Municipal Building or Village Library.

- The residential neighborhood north of Beaver Creek bounded by N. 51^st Street, N. Carlotta Lane, W. Radcliffe Drive and W. Glenbrook Road historically experienced flooding during severe rain events. Alleviating the flooding which occurred in this area became the focus of a study referred to as the "Early Out Project". Numerical modeling was conducted to simulate the functioning of the stormwater drainage system, identify the causes of flooding, and evaluate possible solutions. In 1999 the Early Out Project was completed, which involved reducing the volume of stormwater runoff flowing to the flood-prone neighborhood by rerouting all flows west of N. 60^th Street directly to Beaver Creek, as well as increasing the conveyance capacity of an existing 36"x58" pipe arch. Also, a new storm sewer, 60" in diameter, was constructed beneath N. 60^th Street from the intersection of N. 60^th Street and W. Cloverleaf Lane south to Beaver Creek. The length of storm sewer beneath N. 60^th Street starting at W. Fairy Chasm Road was replaced by a larger pipe to accommodate increased flows, and the existing 36"x58" arched pipe near W. Glenbrook Road and N. 52^nd Street was replaced by two 60" diameter pipes, thus increasing the conveyance capacity of this section of the drainage system.

- Detention facilities are a key to stormwater management along Southbranch Creek. The Village applied for and received a $1.3 million Hazard Mitigation Grant (funded largely by Federal and State agencies) following the August 1998 flood for the purpose of purchasing 10 seriously flooded homes along Southbranch Creek on West Churchill Lane. The homes were acquired and demolished. Where those homes once stood is now a detention basin capable of holding up to 7 million gallons of rainwater. MMSD funded the construction of the Churchill Lane detention basin at this four acre site.

- A detention basin has also been completed at Tripoli Country Club (7410 N. 43rd St., Brown Deer), with construction costs of the basin shared by the County Club and Village. The detention basin is located at the northwest corner of the property.

- Construction is currently underway for three additional basins in or near Brown Deer. A 2.5-acre detention pond will be built adjacent to the Brown Deer Public Library (5600 W. Bradley Road, Brown Deer). This detention facility will be capable of holding about 5.5 million gallons of water during a rainstorm, and provide water quality benefits to Southbranch Creek as required by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. After a rainstorm, water will be released back into the Southbranch Creek at a slow, controlled rate. Another basin, covering 5-acres, is under construction adjacent to Dean Elementary School (8355 N. 55th St., Brown Deer). The basin will be capable of holding about 4 million gallons of water during a rainstorm. The project will excavate a shallow floodplain adjacent to the creek’s north branch. Two baseball fields, currently existing at that site, will be rebuilt. Another basin is being constructed adjacent to Thoreau Elementary School in the City of Milwaukee just south of Bradley Road (7878 N. 60th St., Milwaukee). It will be capable of holding 6.2 million gallons of water. Cooperative efforts between the Village of Brown Deer, MMSD, School District of Brown Deer, City of Milwaukee, and Milwaukee County made these projects possible.