By Topf Wells

Thanks in part to a strong and decisive public commentary, CARPC – Dane County’s Regional Planning Commission – recommended rejection of the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District’s proposal to stop its contribution of water to Badger Mill Creek. The vote was 11-1 to recommend denial.

The CARPC recommendation now goes to the DNR, which has to decide by September 8. The DNR contracts with CARPC to analyze MMSD’s request and to solicit and consider public comment. The DNR will consider all the analysis and all the public comment and discussion in its decision making. In addition, SWTU joined local officials and advocates for Badger Mill Creek in meeting with DNR leaders as CARPC made its recommendation. (I do not think that contacting DNR at this point in the process is necessary or even helpful.)

What remains incredibly frustrating about this experience is MMSD’s refusal to consider Adaptive Management, a phosphorus reduction program that would enable them to meet their regulatory burden and maintain the water to Badger Mill Creek. Leaders of local government, advocates and neighbors of the creek, and conservation organizations such as SWTU have begged MMSD to do so and promised every possible help. The DNR has publicly stated that Adaptive Management is feasible for Badger Mill creek and CARPC has encouraged that MMSD revisit that approach.

Badger Mill Creek, whose motto could be “Why is Everyone Picking on Me?” faces a possible new threat via a quarry proposed just north of the creek and its confluence with the Sugar River. A critical question is whether that quarry will disrupt the groundwater vital to that part of the creek. Dane County called out this threat and SWTU has joined the County Land and Water Conservation Department in requesting a thorough groundwater study of this area and the quarry’s possible effects. The proposal is locally controversial and will probably take months to resolve.