By Topf Wells
Badger Mill Creek may well face a serious threat in the near future. That risk occurs because of a complicated regulatory situation. Following is a highly condensed account of the situation. More information and recommendations for SWTU members and other friends of Badger Mill Creek (BMC) will be posted on our website and other media. See the information below and continue to tuned and prepared to act.
| You can make a difference!
There will be one more Listening Session held by MMSD on December 8 at 6pm. We need you to attend and make our watershed’s voice heard. This will be a virtual listening session so you don’t even need to leave your home to participate. To attend the virtual session you simply need to indicate that you would like to attend by filling out the MEETING REGISTRATION FORM.
A link to the zoom meeting will then be sent to you so that you can attend.
Many thanks to the Upper Sugar River Watershed Association for this heads-up and all they are doing to preserve this fragile resource. |
The Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) discharges some of its highly treated and aerated effluent to BMC. That water is a significant part of BMC’s flow. While the decision to discharge to BMC was controversial years ago, most observers believe the effluent benefits the stream. During those years BMC has improved as a trout stream. Dane County and the City of Verona have spent millions in acquiring land along the creek and restoring long stretches of it. SWTU has contributed funds and volunteer hours to the restorations.
EPA and the DNR require MMSD to further reduce the amount of phosphorus it discharges into BMC. To meet this requirement, MMSD can increase its treatment of the effluent, implement projects that reduce the phosphorus entering the creek from the lands in the watershed, or stop the effluent to BMC.
The treatment option is expensive and the second will be difficult because of the rapid development in the SW Madison and Verona areas. The third is simple, less expensive but might harm the creek.
MMSD hopes to have its plan of action approved by its Commission in late spring with options presented by early spring. MMSD held its first public meeting on this topic on 11/30/22. It was conducted as a public information and listening session. MMSD indicated that its consultants were still studying a variety of options but did not disclose what, if any, option it prefers at this time.
Representatives of SWTU, the Upper Sugar River Watershed Association, the Friends of Badger Mill Creek, the Towns of Verona and Montrose, and the City of Verona attended with other interested citizens. Almost everyone expressed a high level of concern over the possible reduction of flow to BMC. Martin Griffin, the MMSD Director of Ecosystem Services, promised that MMSD would not hurt the creek.
Several attendees asked MMSD and the DNR to renew efforts to make reducing phosphorus from the landscape a viable option, pointing out the multiple benefits of that approach.
The organizations and local governments attending the meeting are now discussing how best to work with MMSD to protect the creek.
SWTU will join in that effort and keep our members informed as to next steps.
Leave a Comment
Posted: December 7, 2022 by Drew Kasel
Badger Mill Creek Threatened?
By Topf Wells
Badger Mill Creek may well face a serious threat in the near future. That risk occurs because of a complicated regulatory situation. Following is a highly condensed account of the situation. More information and recommendations for SWTU members and other friends of Badger Mill Creek (BMC) will be posted on our website and other media. See the information below and continue to tuned and prepared to act.
There will be one more Listening Session held by MMSD on December 8 at 6pm. We need you to attend and make our watershed’s voice heard. This will be a virtual listening session so you don’t even need to leave your home to participate. To attend the virtual session you simply need to indicate that you would like to attend by filling out the MEETING REGISTRATION FORM.
A link to the zoom meeting will then be sent to you so that you can attend.
Many thanks to the Upper Sugar River Watershed Association for this heads-up and all they are doing to preserve this fragile resource.
The Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) discharges some of its highly treated and aerated effluent to BMC. That water is a significant part of BMC’s flow. While the decision to discharge to BMC was controversial years ago, most observers believe the effluent benefits the stream. During those years BMC has improved as a trout stream. Dane County and the City of Verona have spent millions in acquiring land along the creek and restoring long stretches of it. SWTU has contributed funds and volunteer hours to the restorations.
EPA and the DNR require MMSD to further reduce the amount of phosphorus it discharges into BMC. To meet this requirement, MMSD can increase its treatment of the effluent, implement projects that reduce the phosphorus entering the creek from the lands in the watershed, or stop the effluent to BMC.
The treatment option is expensive and the second will be difficult because of the rapid development in the SW Madison and Verona areas. The third is simple, less expensive but might harm the creek.
MMSD hopes to have its plan of action approved by its Commission in late spring with options presented by early spring. MMSD held its first public meeting on this topic on 11/30/22. It was conducted as a public information and listening session. MMSD indicated that its consultants were still studying a variety of options but did not disclose what, if any, option it prefers at this time.
Representatives of SWTU, the Upper Sugar River Watershed Association, the Friends of Badger Mill Creek, the Towns of Verona and Montrose, and the City of Verona attended with other interested citizens. Almost everyone expressed a high level of concern over the possible reduction of flow to BMC. Martin Griffin, the MMSD Director of Ecosystem Services, promised that MMSD would not hurt the creek.
Several attendees asked MMSD and the DNR to renew efforts to make reducing phosphorus from the landscape a viable option, pointing out the multiple benefits of that approach.
The organizations and local governments attending the meeting are now discussing how best to work with MMSD to protect the creek.
SWTU will join in that effort and keep our members informed as to next steps.
Share this:
Category: Advocacy, Event Announcements
Recent Posts
Categories