Milwaukee Forms Flood Mitigation Task Force

City, county, and MMSD leaders team up to address rising flood risks

Apr. 17, 2026 at 9:09pm

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A dramatic landscape painting in muted blues and grays, depicting a flooded urban area with only the tops of buildings and bridges visible above a vast, turbulent body of water. The scene conveys a sense of the overwhelming, sublime power of nature, dwarfing the human-made structures caught within it.As extreme weather events continue to threaten Milwaukee's infrastructure, civic leaders unite to develop comprehensive flood mitigation strategies.Today in Milwaukee

Leaders from the City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, and the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) have formed a new Flood Mitigation Task Force to develop both immediate and long-term safety plans for critical infrastructure in the region. The panel, led by Mayor Cavalier Johnson and County Executive David Crowley, will prioritize high-risk areas and sites that have suffered repeated flood damage in order to protect roads, bridges, and parks.

Why it matters

The Milwaukee area has experienced an increase in the frequency and severity of flooding events in recent years, posing a growing threat to the region's infrastructure, economy, and quality of life. By bringing together key government agencies, the Flood Mitigation Task Force aims to take proactive steps to bolster the community's resilience and preparedness for future extreme weather.

The details

The new task force will combine the expertise of MMSD, the City of Milwaukee, and Milwaukee County to address the region's flood risks. The panel will focus on identifying both short-term and long-term solutions, with a priority on mitigating damage in areas that have been repeatedly impacted by flooding incidents.

  • The Flood Mitigation Task Force was formed on Friday, April 17, 2026.

The players

Cavalier Johnson

The Mayor of Milwaukee.

David Crowley

The Milwaukee County Executive.

Kevin Shafer

The Executive Director of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD).

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What they’re saying

“The work of the panel will prioritize mitigation in locations facing the highest risk including sites that have been flooded repeatedly in recent years.”

— Cavalier Johnson, Mayor of Milwaukee

“The extreme weather events that have hit Milwaukee County pose a real threat to the infrastructure that supports our environment, economy, and way of life. We must take action before the next major flood or storm further damages the roads, bridges, parks, and essential infrastructure that residents rely on.”

— David Crowley, Milwaukee County Executive

What’s next

The Flood Mitigation Task Force will begin developing both short-term and long-term plans to address flood risks in the Milwaukee region, with a focus on high-priority areas that have experienced repeated flooding.

The takeaway

The formation of the Flood Mitigation Task Force represents a proactive, collaborative effort by Milwaukee's city, county, and regional water management leaders to bolster the community's resilience and preparedness in the face of increasing extreme weather events and flood risks.