By Topf Wells

Badger Mill Creek (BMC) is an improving Class 2 trout stream that runs through Verona and joins the Sugar River just upstream of River Road. SWTU has provided volunteer hours, funds and advocacy for over 30 years to improve BMC. It offers lots of public fishing, has a healthy population of wild brown trout, and, according to the latest DNR study, has an excellent chance of becoming a Class 1 stream if habitat is improved.

BMC’s health and the progress it’s made are now under attack. We need to protect the creek as best we can.

A key reason BMC has improved is the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) the water it contributes to the creek in the form of highly treated and aerated effluent. DNR fisheries and water quality staff have documented the improvements that’s made to increased and stable water flows and trout habitat. In some key aspects the water acts like a huge spring.

MMSD wants to stop the water as an easy and cheap way to comply with DNR phosphorus regulations. It has other affordable and practical alternatives such as treating the effluent to remove more phosphorus or pursuing Adaptive Management (AM) across the BMC and Upper Sugar watersheds. AM involves MMSD working with local governments, conservation organizations, farmers and developers to reduce urban and rural runoff. That’s the approach MMSD has taken in the Yahara Watershed.

CARPC, Dane County’s Regional Planning Commission, now reviews MMSD’s choice and recommends disapproval or approval to the DNR, which makes the final decision. CARPC will hold its only public hearing on the case on July 11 at 6 PM at the Town of Verona Town Hall at 7669 County Highway PD.

The SWTU Board respectfully asks that you contact CARPC and ask that they DISAPPROVE MMSD’s request to stop the discharge of water to Badger Mill Creek.

You must email CARPC BY JULY 10 at: tanyas@capitalarearpc.org.

Added content: The letter SWTU submitted to CARPC on July 8, 2024.

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