About 60 people demonstrated their interest in the health and future of the Sugar River and its watershed Thursday at a public forum conducted by the Upper Sugar River Watershed Association.

Held at Verona's Wildcat Lanes, the meeting featured a panel of experts who addressed audience questions ranging from concerns about the impact of development to the best methods for land owners to protect the resource. The consensus on river's prognosis was cautiously positive. "We have brown trout reproducing in the river now that we didn't have 20 years ago," said Jim Bertolacini of the state Department of Natural Resources. "Water quality is quite good. We're trying to protect it as well as we can and control development."

He said the best way to assess water quality is by investigating the river's biology, which appears healthy. Others said they're keeping an eye on both water quality and quantity.

"We're concerned with the base flow situation. High capacity pumping depletes the supply," warned Jon Schellpfeffer of the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District.

Several people questioned the wisdom and impact of the Hawks Landing development west of Hwy. M in the town of Verona. Cited by the Sierra Club as one of the worst cases of urban sprawl on their nationwide list, the development has raised fears of flooding during heavy rains, which would increase the amount of top soil and runoff chemicals in the watershed.

"We've historically designed our development activity to handle a 10-year flood," said Karman Mesbah in response to a question about the "discrepancy between planning for a 10-year event and a 100-year approach." "The difference (in impact) between a 10-year event and a 100-year event is not 10 times; it's not that great," Mesbah, of the Dane County Regional Planning Commission, said. "It's not even twice as much. With our planning, even with a 100-year flood, you do not have property damage or loss of life."

Audience members recalled last spring's flooding, which was the most severe in recent memory.

"From a town perspective, most of our analysis is anecdotal," said town of Verona chair Steve Sheets. "With surges of water from even light storms, we're concerned about the amount of water and what's contained in it." He said results of a town survey, with a respondent rate of 74 percent, indicate the top two priorities of town residents are preservation of natural resources and preservation of farm land. "We have a task force drafting a proposal that we establish two farm-preservation priority areas," he said.

Experts explained how development inhibits infiltration, a primary way in which the watershed is recharged. Mesbah called ways to maximize infiltration a "moving target," because the science is relatively new and discoveries are continually emerging.

"Infiltration happens in open-space areas and green spaces," Mesbah said. "The base floor changes from development."

He explained the difference between infiltration and the benefits of retention ponds. "Ponds do not provide infiltration," the environmental engineer said. "A pond's benefit is dissolving biochemicals, which turn to muck at the bottom and seal the pond's floor, preventing drainage. Ponds captures heavy metals, phosphorous, oils and greases, reducing pollutants." "Ponds also attenuate regional floods," added Larry Nelson of the city of Madison. He called ponds "the most effective storm water management tool we have."

Several people questioned the status of the Badger Mill Creek, which nearly dried up a few years ago. According to Jeremy Balousek of the Dane County Land Conservation Department, the creek continues to be threatened by development.

"Studies show that as you increase the amount of impervious surface, the resulting runoff will alter the stream shape, depth, water quality and biology," Balousek said. "Eventually, in 10 to 20 years, urbanization will overwhelm it." He said the most effective way to preserve the creek is by maximizing infiltration.

Protecting the watershed will benefit the area in many ways, participants said, including residents' wells and septic systems. They said surface water resources such as the Sugar River are best protected by having adequate buffers around them, keeping cattle off stream banks and out of the water. Another useful practice is contour farming.

Mesbah stressed the importance of preventing the "fragmentation of farms, which may harm streams, wildlife, ecosystems and the quality of life." He said the planning commission conducts water-quality monitoringÅ "the only way to evaluate the cumulative impact" of modernization and development. "We are seeing improvement overall in the county," Mesbah reported.

Forum organizer Marcia Hartwig announced the Upper Sugar River Watershed Association meets monthly, and has its annual meeting scheduled for Feb. 10. For more information, call Hartwig at 224-3746.

Contact the Upper Sugar River Watershed Association at:
207 East Main Street • PO Box 314 • Mount Horeb, WI 53572
Phone: (608) 437-7707 • Email: execdr@usrwa.org

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This page last updated August 25, 2003