The UW occupies a prominent position on the Yahara Lakes, in terms of benefits it derives as well as impacts it causes. Unfortunately, the lakes are suffering from severe problems, including
The potential severity of the latter two problems has only been recognized in the last few years. Furthermore, only recently has it been demonstrated that conventional stormwater management practices, which rely heavily on detention ponds, provide virtually no mitigation of these problems. If the Yahara Lakes watershed, which is today predominantly rural, continues to be developed using conventional stormwater management practices, the severity and frequency of damaging high- and low-water episodes will increase significantly.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison should commit to a policy that ensures that the amount of runoff from newly developed and redeveloped areas be no greater than the amount that occurred under native conditions.
The potential severity of the latter two problems has only been recognized in the last few years. Furthermore, only recently has it been demonstrated that conventional stormwater management practices, which rely heavily on detention ponds, provide virtually no mitigation of these problems. If the Yahara Lakes watershed, which is today predominantly rural, continues to be developed using conventional stormwater management practices, the severity and frequency of damaging high- and low-water episodes will increase significantly.
Fortunately, there are number of emerging stormwater management practices that enable watershed development without impacting lake levels. Many of these conservation practices facilitate the infiltration of storm runoff from impervious surfaces. Examples of such practices include rain gardens, bioretention cells, and permeable pavements. Other conservation practices, such as green roofs, reduce runoff by holding water and allowing it to evaporate. A third group of conservation practices enhances the infiltration capacity of green spaces through the use of vegetation, soil amendments, and tillage practices. These practices, when appropriately designed and sited, are comparable in cost to traditional stormwater management practices.
Although the advantages of conservation practices have been well documented, their adoption has been slowed by the inertia associated with traditional approaches. The University is well poised to expedite this process in Wisconsin, and particularly in the Yahara Lakes watershed. In fact, the University has already begun to include conservation practices in several of its planned construction projects. The most effective University action would be to commit to a policy that ensures that runoff from each new construction project be no greater than the amount that occurred under native conditions. Implementation of this policy could be achieved by use of conservation practices on site, by improving stormwater management practices elsewhere on campus, or by a combination of on- and off-site improvements.
Adoption of this policy would lead to a long-term reduction in the University’s impacts on the Yahara Lakes, funded through the construction costs associated with building projects. More importantly, the University would be providing strong leadership at a critical stage in the development of the Yahara Lakes Watershed.
It is therefore recommend that the University of Wisconsin-Madison commit to a policy that ensures that the amount of runoff from newly developed and redeveloped areas be no greater than the amount that occurred under native conditions.
