Mt. Pleasant---Damage that was done to the Pike River in southern Racine County some 125 years ago has finally been reversed.
With a couple of short speeches delivered under a tent in Tuesday's chilly and windy conditions, the village formally marked the end of a 15 year-long, $17 million project to restore the Pike.
"The river was 'channelized' back in the late 1800's and early 1900's and deepened primarily to improve drainage for agricultural purposes so it cold be farmed," explained Mt. Pleasant Director of Engineering Bill Sasse. Over time as development occurred, flooding became common place, creating farm run-off and erosion, all things that damaged the habitat.
The recently-completed project creates a new river corridor that's designed to eliminate flooding, improve water quality and enhance aquatic life.
The five mile-long stretch of restored river channel ends at County “K-R” just west of Green Bay Road. Next up…creation of a bike path that’ll run through the environmental corridor.
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