Water Diversion Controversy Stifles Milwaukee Suburb's Growth Plans

The city of Waukesha asked for more water than the Great Lakes Compact would allow. Commenters remind the city of Waukesha that water for growth was never the goal of the Great Lakes Compact.

2 minute read

May 6, 2016, 1:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


great lakes

NASA Goddard Space Flight / Flickr

Don Behm of the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel provides the big news about a decision by Great Lakes officials to cut a water diversion request intended to help the city of Waukesha, a suburb of Milwaukee, continue to grow. According to Behm, Waukesha's proposal requested an average of 10.1 million gallons a day. Great Lakes official trimmed that proposal to 8.2 million gallons a day by removing "portions of three neighboring communities from a future water service area to receive lake water," according to Behm.

An article by Angie Schmitt offers helpful perspective on the context and larger implications of the decision. "Governors of the states surrounding the Great Lakes are considering a water policy case with big implications for land development throughout the Midwest," writes Schmitt, who also provides this background:

Waukesha, Wisconsin, a sprawling suburban area outside Milwaukee, has exhausted its water resources. Rather than cooperate with the city of Milwaukee to secure water, Waukesha spent years preparing an application to divert water from Lake Michigan. Waukesha needs permission from the states and provinces that signed the Great Lakes Compact, a 2008 agreement to protect the world’s largest freshwater source from being pillaged.

In addition to providing that concise description of the issue, Schmitt's article shares the commentary provided by James Rowen of the Political Environment, who has been following the request since it was first proposed. According to Rowen, a recent decision by Great Lakes officials to cut the water diversion request should have been anticipated years ago.

Prior to the regional group's decision, the Wisconsin Department of Natural resources had approved the proposed change of service area.

Friday, April 22, 2016 in Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up of man in manually operated wheelchair waiting at urban crosswalk.

Making Mobility More Inclusive

A new study highlights the challenges people with disabilities continue to face in navigating urban spaces.

45 minutes ago - Greater Good Magazine

US and Texas flags flying in front of Texas state capitol dome in Austin, Texas.

Texas Bills Could Push More People Into Homelessness

A proposal to speed up the eviction process and a bill that would accelerate enforcement of an existing camping ban could make the state’s homelessness crisis worse, advocates say.

1 hour ago - The Texas Tribune

Person in yellow safety suit and white helmet kneels to examine water samples outdoors on a lake shore.

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure

If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

2 hours ago - Inside Climate News