what is the watershed plan? - madison, wisconsin · what is the watershed plan? the lake wingra...

LAKE WINGRA WATERSHED PLAN

What is the Watershed Plan?The Lake Wingra Watershed Plan is a joint initiative between the City of Madison and the Friends of Lake Wingra to achieve the goals listed in “Lake Wingra, a vision for the future.” These goals include:

1. Clean, clear, water

2. Restored spring flow

3. Abundant native plants and animals

4. Stewardship and enjoyment

http://www.motherofalltrips.com/2011/08/allstate‐amazon‐gift‐card‐giveaway.html

The Wingra Watershed Plan seeks to address some of these goals by looking at measures that reduce phosphorus and chlorides into the lake, as well as increasing area infiltration


1998 2006 2010 2014200220092003

Friends of Lake WingraFounded in 1998

Take a Stake In The Lakes

Background

Lake Wingra Watershed Management Plan: 2011 to Present


Where is the Lake Wingra Watershed?


Specific Watershed Plan Goals1. Phosphorus: Of the 1,900 pounds of phosphorus generated in

the watershed each year,

Percent ReductionAdditional TP Removal

NeededExisting Conditions 38.5% 731 lbs

(current removal)Short‐Term Goal 50% 218 lbs

Long‐Term Goal 80% 570 lbs


Specific Watershed Plan Goals2. Chlorides: Change the lake chloride concentration from 120 mg/l

to 40 mg/l that existed in the early 1970s.

2011 Salt Report


Specific Watershed Plan Goals3. Infiltration/Groundwater Recharge: Of the 742 million gallons of

lost infiltration due to development,

Recover % of Lost Infiltration

Additional Infiltration Needed

Lost InfiltrationNA 742 million gallons

Existing Infiltration Facilities

28 million gallons

Short‐Term Goal10% 46 million gallons

Long‐Term Goal25% 112 million gallons


What can you do?1. Educate yourself! – The way you rake leaves, apply salt, mow

your lawn matters.

2. Change norms! – As you become a better environmental steward, encourage your neighbors and local businesses to do the same.

3. Support change! – The city also will be making management changes and implementing projects to improve water quality. This may require moderating expectations (ex snow removal) and accepting projects near to you (eg basins).

4. Advocate! – Each year the City of Madison must establish its budget priorities. Let your local officials know that environmental stewardship is a priority.


Why is Phosphorus so important?• Polluted runoff is Wisconsin's

number one water quality problem,

• Extra phosphorus can wash into our lakes and streams from lawns, leaf piles, stormwater and construction sites, roads and other hard surfaces,

• Extra phosphorus causes algae blooms, water quality decline, and negative impacts

• Fertilizers, leaves, grass clippings, eroded soil, and animal waste are all sources of nutrients, including phosphorus.

http://www.wisconsinlakes.org/index.php/polluted-run-off


What is currently being done to reduce Phosphorus?Fertilizer Phosphorus Bans• Dane County: Jan. 1, 2005• State of WI: April 1, 2010

UW‐Madison Arboretum Stormwater Treatment Measures• 2003, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014• UW‐Madison, City of Madison, Town of Madison, City of Fitchburg, WisDOT

Erosion Control and Stormwater Ordinances• City of Madison: Chapter 37• Dane County: Chapter 14• Requires controls on public and private developments• Redevelopment required to meet 80% TSS Reduction (to assist in meeting Rock River TMDL)

City of Madison Initiatives• Alum Treatment Pilot Project• 1,000 Rain Gardens Initiative• Terrace Rain Gardens• Leaf Collection & Street Sweeping


What can we do to reduce Phosphorus?

Structural Improvements• Wet Detention Basins• Bioretention Basins• Rain Gardens• Streambank

Restoration• Alum Addition to Wet

Ponds

Non-Structural Improvements• Construction Site Erosion

Control Enforcement• Modified Leaf Collection

Methods• Wetland Harvesting• Modified Street Sweeping

Methods/Schedule• Pet Waste Enforcement• Infiltration


What you can you do to decrease Phosphorus?

Pet Waste Leaves

http://web.uri.edu/riss/files/PetWasteSign.jpg

Yard Waste

CLIPPINGS OUT OF GUTTER


What can/is the City doing to reduce Phosphorus?

Street Sweeping & Leaf Collection Leaf Collection

Construction Site Erosion Control Constructing Basins


Why is salt a problem?

Circle diameter proportional to chloride concentration

Madison Wells with Chlorides From City of Madison 2011 Salt Report

Road salt harms aquatic lifehttp://cutsalt.blogspot.com/2011_10_01_archive.html


Estimated chloride contribution to Lake Wingra

City of Madison

Streets, 35%

County Maintained,

11%

Arboretum, 0%Town of

Madison Streets,

0.6%

Sidewalks/ Alleys/Bike Paths, 3%

Residential, 3.5%

Commercial/ Multifamily/ Institutional,

47%

2006-2012


How much salt do you use?Spreading between 3 to 5 lbs per 1000 square feet is sufficient to melt snow. Studies show that both commercial and private applicators spread as much as 25 to 30 lbs per 1,000 square foot!

Too much salt gets into our lakeshttp://www.callcontour.com/landscaping/2012/12/just‐enough‐applying‐salt‐for‐winter‐de‐icing

• Shovel your driveway promptly to avoid packing and the need for salt

• Use sand for traction. The City places sand for residents to use in several locations.

• Use less salt. You need much less than you think to melt snow and ice.


What can the City do to use less salt?The City of Madison already takes substantial measures which include:• Applying anti-icing solutions to pavements in advance of storms.• Waiting until streets are plowed before applying salt.• Using sand instead of salt on non-arterials.After every storm the Streets Department receives numerous calls to apply more salt. Rarely are they asked to apply less salt.

The City’s salt use is directly related to our expectations – changing our expectations will help the City use less salt.


What’s needed to achieve goal?

ProjectedChloride Levels

Model Results

60% Commercial Reduction

60% Municipal Reduction


Why is spring flow important?• At one time there

were 33 springs flowing into Lake Wingra.

• Today, this number has been reduced to 13 springs(shown on the adjacent map)

Flowing SpringWell


What is the impact of impervious surfaces?

http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr‐ap/clue/Documents/Water/ImperviousSurfaceShort2013.pdf


What is currently being done to Increase Infiltration?MG&E Infiltration Facility• 26.9 million gallons per year

Erosion Control and Stormwater Ordinances• City of Madison: Chapter 37• Dane County: Chapter 14• Requires Infiltration On Development Sites, Where

Feasible (9 Existing)

City of Madison Initiatives• 1,000 Rain Gardens Initiative• Terrace Rain Gardens• Westmorland Park Infiltration Facility


How can we increase spring flow?


What you can do to increase spring flow

Downspout Disconnection

Rain Garden

Terrace Rain Garden


What’s needed to meet Short-Term Infiltration and Phosphorus Goals?

Goal # Projects Approx. Cost

Short-Term Infiltration Goal 12 $10.2 million

Short-Term TP Reduction Goal 1-3 $55,000 to $0.8 million

TOTAL $10.3 to $11 million


What will happen with the Watershed Plan?

Finalize Watershed Plan Report

Seek Endorsements• Neighborhood groups• Advocacy

organizations(Clean Lakes Alliance, Yahara WINS, etc.)

Seek City Approval

• Commission on Environment

• Board of Public Works

• Common Council

Phase 2 of Leaf

Collection Pilot Project

Watershed Plan Activity

Advocate for Implementation

Resources

Funding for Infrastructure

MeasuresExample• Basins• Infiltration• Etc.

Support for Internal

Management Changes

Example• Leaf bagging• Salt use• Etc.

Community Advocacy Activity

Support for External

ProgramsExample• Commercial

salt applicator certification

• Infiltration incentives

You can make a difference in its implementation!


Breakout Sessions

Phosphorus Reduction Road Salt Reduction Increased Infiltration

Council Spring, near Arbor Drive and Monroe Street in Madison, Wisconsin as it appeared on Dec. 7, 2011. Photo copyrighted by Stephen B. Glass

http://www.cleanlakesalliance.com/2013/11/07/rain-leaves-and-lakes-dont-mix/

• What do you like about the proposal?• Are there concerns with any of the proposals?• What would it take to make it happen?• Are you willing to be a champion for a proposal?


Trade-Off AnalysisExample: Homeowners apply less salt

Low High

Implementation Ease

How easy would it be to convince homeowners to use less salt?

Changing community norms takes years and decades – but eventually behaviors change

EffectivenessHow much difference would it make in Lake Wingra chloride levels?

Of all the salt reaching LakeWingra, only 3.6% is attributable to residential properties

Overall CostWhat would be the overall cost to get homeowners to use less salt?

The cost of implementing this measure is low – amounting to just the costs of public information.

Cost-EffectivenessHow cost-effective is it to have homeowners use less salt?

It is very cost-effective to use less salt and get satisfactory results

Public AcceptanceHow easy would it be to get public acceptance?

Generally, most citizens when informed of the advantages would support this initiative

This initiative would . . .