The Burnham Canal was dug in the 1870s to support Milwaukee industries, but now the portion west of the 11th Street Bridge will be transformed back into a wetland. The Menomonee Valley was once wetland before it was filled in for industry, with canals artificially straightening water courses. The canal bottom is contaminated with copper and PAHs from Miller Compressing, which is paying to clean up the site before an artificial wetland will be created. Recent surveys from the School of Freshwater Sciences revealed fish spawning habitat. The canal is known to adventurous kayakers and persistent fisherfolk.