Back in September, we told you about photographer Eddee Daniel's book "Urban Wilderness: Exploring a Metropolitan Watershed," published in large-format paperback by the Center for American Places and Columbia College Chicago.

As we said back then, Daniel, who collaborates with Friends of Milwaukee's Rivers, has been a photography teacher for more than a quarter of a century, so it should come as little surprise that this exploration and meditation on the Menomonee River is heavily illustrated with color photos that bring this book alive.

Anyone familiar with the concrete-banked torrent we see under the Wisconsin Avenue viaduct or the stretch of river running through the former industrial wasteland of the Menomonee Valley will be surprised to see Daniel's images of wildlife, prairies and woods that are part of the river's reality before it arrives here.

We recently caught up with Daniel to ask him about the book and about his involvement with the Menomonee River and more.

OMC: I know you come from a photography background, but do you also have a background in environmentalism?

ED: I have been an environmental advocate most of my life. I attended the first Earth Day celebrations in New York City in 1970.

Since 1999, I have been a board member of Milwaukee's Riverkeeper (formerly Friends of Milwaukee's Rivers). I joined the organization to help them fight the proposed sale of the Milwaukee County Grounds in Wauwatosa. As a board member I initiated the Urban Wilderness Project that culminated in the publication of the book.

I have also worked with several other organizations, including the Urban Ecology Center, the Sierra Club, the River Revitalization Foundation and the Conservation Fund.

OMC: Was it that mix of experience that brought you to this project?

ED: Yes, I was inspired by the vision of the founder of what was originally the Friends of Menomonee River, Bob Boucher. He suggested that the wonderful river parkways in the Milwaukee County Parks system be extended; an interconnected network of natural lands could be protected within the scope of an entire watershed rather than one limited by political boundaries.

OMC: Why the Menomonee River in particular? Was it the most interesting subject of its kind from a photographic standpoint or was it the most appropriate intersection of art and envirnomentalism for the project?

ED: The Menomonee symbolizes the issues, promises and concerns about urban rivers because it runs through the heart of the city. It includes densely populated urban, industrial, inner tier suburban, outer tier suburban and agricultural areas in a compact geographic region.

The Menomonee Valley began as the vast wild rice marsh that sustained pre-colonial peoples, Later it was filled and became the home to industries that drove Milwaukee's economy. The Valley then suffered the decline typical of industrial rust belt cities. Now it is in the process of revitalization.

Upstream from the Valley, the river is subject to common suburban and agricultural issues including sprawling development, pollution, and flooding. And yet people flock to it for its natural features whenever and wherever it offers them the opportunity, which it does in abundance along Milwaukee County parkways.

OMC: Can you tell us a bit about the state of the river -- the health of it -- these days?

ED: Overall the rivers are in much better condition than they were before the passage of the Clean Water Act in the 1970s. There are still areas of concern: leaky sewer pipes that lead to a build up of bacteria, salt runoff from roads and phosphorus from the overuse of fertilizers.

Portions of the watershed were lined with concrete channels, mostly in the 1960s, in a counterproductive attempt to control flooding. There is interest in restoring some of these to a more natural state. That would benefit the health of the system greatly, if we can provide funding for it.

OMC: Are things improving? Getting worse?

ED: Both. In some parts of the watershed there is still riverfront property that is unprotected and being lost to development. However, in the Menomonee Valley significant efforts have been made to rehabilitate the river and recreate urban parklands along with a broad revitalization program spearheaded by the Menomonee Valley Partners.

The City of Mequon recently purchased over 400 acres of agricultural land. The new Mequon Nature Preserve is being restored to native woodland. And all over the outlying parts of the watershed the MMSD's Greenseams Program is purchasing land to help prevent future flooding problems.

OMC: What can people do to help the river and other local waterways? How can one person make an impact?

ED: There are many specific things one person or family can do, such as disconnecting gutters from storm drains or using less fertilizer on a lawn. These can benefit the rivers significantly. However, one of the themes of "Urban Wilderness" is the experience of living with nature; a less tangible way to affect the rivers would be simply to spend time enjoying them. If more people did that then there would be greater incentives to protect what we have left.

OMC: Do you think the Menomonee River has suffered a bit of an image problem in Milwaukee, since it runs through the valley -- which has had a very industrial past -- and is a bit out of the way (or has been in the past) for many Milwaukeeans, when compared to, say, the Milwaukee River, which cuts a high-profile path through Downtown?

ED: Oh yes it has. But, as I said, it is making a comeback. Miller Park, Potawatomi and Harley-Davidson (Museum) have combined to make the Valley a destination again and the Hank Aaron State Trail makes it a pleasure to walk, run or bike all the way through it.

OMC: What's your favorite spot on the river?

ED: I love the places where it's better to be wearing boots than sandals because the trail disappears and the earth gets soggy, where the deer are startled to see me because humans are unexpected. One of the many surprises I discovered in my explorations of the urban wilderness is how many such places there are.

OMC: What do you hope the book will accomplish? What is it that you hope readers will take away from it?

ED: An appreciation for the natural beauty that we have here in our community. I hope people will walk along the rivers right here and not feel the need to drive long distances to reach parks and natural attractions. And I hope that they will also see the challenges and be moved to advocate for the restoration, preservation, and protection of natural areas nearby.

OMC: Are you working on any other Milwaukee-focused projects these days that you can tell us about?

ED: I am working with the Friends of the Hank Aaron State Trail. We are producing a plan for the introduction of art works to be put into the environment along the trail, which runs from the lakefront to Miller Park. Also, if you go to my Web site at www.eddeedaniel.com you can see the newer photographs that relate to the urban wilderness, this time supporting the Milwaukee's Central Park project on the Milwaukee River.

"Urban Wilderness" retails for $27.50 and is available at local bookshops and online retailers.