1000 Friends of Wisconsin

The waters of Southeastern Wisconsin have always been among its most important and cherished assets. Long before the first pioneers came, Native Americans depended on the abundant game in the watershed for food and trading. These early inhabitants gave the area the name “Milwaukee” which means “Gathering Place by the Waters.”

The first European immigrants were fur traders who recognized the strategic advantage of a fur trading post on the shores of Lake Michigan. As Milwaukee grew, so did the importance of water resources. The port of Milwaukee grew to be the largest in the state, helping the “Gathering Place by the Waters” become Wisconsin’s largest city. Continue reading Greater Milwaukee Water Quality Connections