Mission
Restore. Protect. Sustain.
Mission
Restore. Protect. Sustain.
above: the Village of Mount Pleasant's restoration of the North Branch of the Pike River
Mission
Restore, protect and sustain the Root-Pike basin watersheds through the funding and facilitation of a regional network of locally initiated projects
Pike River, Root River, Oak Creek, Pike Creek and Wind Point Watershed
History
History
above: the Village of Mount Pleasant's restoration of the North Branch of the Pike River
History
A RIVER RESOURCE SINCE 1998
Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network is a 501(c)3 non-profit formed in 1998 by the Department of Natural Resources and other watershed stakeholders to restore, protect and sustain the five watersheds of Southeastern Wisconsin. Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network brings municipalities, private citizens, donors and environmental experts from the Root-Pike basin together to improve water quality, restore natural habitats, reduce storm water runoff and create places where people want to live, work and invest. In 2007, we helped design and implement the Keep Our Waters Clean program to help municipalities meet their storm water permit requirements. In 2008, we began the Rain Garden Initiative, which put in place more than 100 rain gardens and 60 rain barrels. We also awarded over $545,000 in small grants to more than 100 local conservation projects in the Root-Pike Watershed since our inception.
Over the past five years, we have helped SEWRPC with the planning, and now leading the implementation of the EPA-approved, 9-element Root River Watershed Restoration Plan. We took the lead in planning and implementation of the 9-element Pike River and Wind Point Watershed Plans. Currently, we are assisting SEWRPC in the planning process for the Oak Creek Watershed Restoration Plan. Our intent is to begin the fundraising for a Watershed Restoration Plan for the Pike Creek watershed in 2017. We believe our next 20 years is best served restoring the five watersheds via EPA-approved, 9-key element Watershed Restoration Plans.
Projects
Projects
Projects
Root-Pike WIN has a 15-year history of moving projects forward in the Root-Pike basin. Root-Pike WIN is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2001, and has awarded $545,000 in small grants to more than 100 local conservation projects in the five watersheds we serve since our inception.
Today, we are focused on planning and implementing EPA-approved, 9-key element watershed restoration plans. Our strategy is focused on advancing the recommendations deemed “critical” in these 9-key element plans in order to affect the greatest change.
Please contact Dave Giordano at dave@rootpikewin.org for more information about moving projects forward.
Board
Board
Board
Chris Meier
Project Executive
Riley Construction
Grace Girard
Community Affairs Associate
SC Johnson
Michael Luba - President
Root-Pike Basin Supervisor (retired)
Department of Natural Resources
Roger Chernik - Director
Community Leader/Past President
Root-Pike WIN / River Bend Nature Center
Joann Speca
Senior Regulatory Specialist
UnitQ, LLC
Carl Holburn
Lawyer
O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong, & Laing
Joshua Sopczak - Vice President
Vice President Commercial Lending
Town Bank Racine
Bill Sasse - Director
Director of Engineering (retired)
Village of Mount Pleasant
Jim Small - Treasurer
CPA & Partner
Maller Peterson, LLC
John Scripp - Director
Independent Attorney
Formerly of Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek
Staff
Staff
above: the Village of Mount Pleasant's restoration of the North Branch of the Pike River
Root-Pike WIN Staff
Passion for These Rivers
Dave Giordano
Executive Director
Dave is a former Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network board member and leads the communications, fundraising, and operations of Root-Pike WIN with a goal of connecting partnerships with projects. Dave brings a background in marketing and has held a variety of director-level roles throughout his career. He has also been involved with non-profit organizations such as the Trout Unlimited, Safe & Sound, Kenosha Sport Fishing and Conservation Association, UW-Milwaukee Minority Mentor program, Ovation Awards, and the Pike River Revival. Dave grew up a frequent visitor to the Pike River as a biker, hiker, runner, canoe paddler, and fly-fisherman.
amy kolb
Bookkeeper
Amy manages the accounting functions of Root Pike-Win. She comes with a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Business Management from UW-Madison. She has worked in many accounting roles in both small and medium-sized businesses. Amy also manages the bookkeeping for her family’s grain farm in Racine County. She enjoys time with her children and spending time outdoors.
Laura Buska
Senior Manager
Respect Our Waters Program Manager
Laura manages Root-Pike WIN's Respect Our Waters public outreach and education program and also serves as Root-Pike WIN’s communications coordinator. She loves building relationships within her community and working together to address local, environmental concerns. Her favorite part of working with Root-Pike WIN is sharing all of the collaborative projects, training sessions, and events in an effort to educate and recruit the local community in caring for their home habitats. Laura is a graduate of UW Parkside with her bachelor’s in Environmental Science and minors in both biology and public policy. For 3 years, she has volunteered on the Executive Committee of the local Sierra Club with 2 years as an active Co-Chair. Laura is an avid gardener and loves hiking, kayaking, and cooking plant-based foods for her friends and family.
Kristi Heuser
Stormwater Resource Consultant
Pollinator Patch Program Manager
Kristi comes to Root-Pike WIN with an undergraduate degree in Biology and Secondary Education from Carthage College, and her master’s degree in Conservation Biology from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. In previous positions, Kristi was responsible for creating lessons that engaged middle school students in scientific exploration. To deepen her passion for learning, she partnered with Carthage College professors to learn about bioacoustics and design experiments focused on fluid dynamics which she conducted herself on a microgravity research flight. Kristi’s love for education, collaboration, and research will help transform how we manage stormwater and improve water quality. In her spare time, Kristi loves to read, enjoy the outdoors, and spend time with her family.
Reports
Reports
Annual Reports
Root-Pike WIN's Annual Report for fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023 and ending June 30, 2024.
Root-Pike WIN's Annual Report for fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021 and ending June 30, 2022.
Root-Pike WIN's Annual Report for fiscal year beginning July 1, 2020 and ending June 30, 2021.
Root-Pike WIN's Annual Report for fiscal year beginning July 1, 2018 and ending June 30, 2019.
Root-Pike WIN's Annual Report for fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017 and ending June 30, 2018.
Root-Pike WIN's Annual Report for fiscal year beginning July 1, 2016 and ending June 30, 2017.
Root-Pike WIN's Annual Report for fiscal year beginning July 1, 2015 and ending June 30, 2016.
n/a
2014-2015
Root-Pike WIN's Annual Report for fiscal year beginning July 1, 2013 and ending June 30, 2014.
Root-Pike WIN's Annual Report for fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012 and ending June 30, 2013.
Root-Pike WIN's Annual Report for fiscal year beginning July 1, 2011 and ending June 30, 2012.