Upper Sugar River Initiative

Upper Sugar River Initiative Executive Summary
Sugar River Initiative Habitat Project

See the Sugar River Watershed Project Site (exit DNR in new window)

The Upper Sugar Initiative is a project funded by a U.S. EPA grant to involve stakeholders in analyzing the watershed's pressing ecological issues, identifying solutions to those issues, and developing an action plan that addresses priority issues such as sedimentation, habitat restoration, or growth and land use impacts in the watershed.

This is a reach of Badger Mill Creek in Verona. The streambank in the image has been brushed by a Wisconsin Youth Conservation Corps team and volunteers from the Eastview Heights Neighborhood Association. Other volunteers for the project came from the Friends of the Ice Age Trail and from the Dane County Conservation League.

The Initiative effort evolved from a Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) stakeholder group that formed to investigate wastewater discharge issues. MMSD discharges effluent from the Madison metropolitan area to Badfish Creek. Under state law, this discharge bypasses the Yahara chain-of-lakes to preserve its water quality. Over the years, urban growth serviced by MMSD has occurred on the city's west side, which is located, in part, in the Upper Sugar River watershed. Removal of water from the Sugar River system by municipal wells, and sending that water to a different drainage basin, has raised concerns about diminished flow in the Upper Sugar River system.

The Initiative

The Initiative also grew out of the need for a fresh approach to a difficult issue. With its wastewater treatment plant at capacity, the City of Verona decided to send its wastewater to the MMSD plant. A return line discharging water to Badger Mill Creek in the Upper Sugar River Watershed will maintain base flows in that system. A stakeholder group has formed to capitalize on the heightened awareness by setting up a framework for collective decision making in a work group structure. Work groups are considering benefits to wildlife, habitat, stream water quality and quantity and aesthetic resource values in the identification of key issue areas for the basin. In this way, the Initiative is serving as a trial for future "whole basin" or "watershed approach" projects in the state.

DESCRIPTION

In collaboration with many partners, the Department needs to continue planning and implementing programs to protect stream health in the Upper Sugar River. The Upper Sugar River Watershed is threatened by urbanization and farming. Stormwater runoff, groundwater depletion, wastewater discharges and habitat destruction are ongoing threats to the aquatic environment's health. High quality resources are present throughout the watershed. The Sugar River is a cold water-exceptional resource water. Badger Mill Creek contains trout and there are many valuable wetlands along the Sugar River. Recreational resources in the project area include the Military Ridge State Trail, Ice Age Trail, and Badger Prairie County Park.

OBJECTIVES

The goals are to protect the Upper Sugar River water quality through innovative strategies that capitalize on existing stakeholder involvement; improve habitat for terrestrial and aquatic life; increase water based recreational activities; investigate methods of improving groundwater infiltration to protect base flows in Badger Mill Creek; and educate students about local water resources issues.

Executive Summary

Upper Sugar River Initiative Executive Summary

Accomplishments

Stormwater study in the City of Madison
Phosphorus and sediment source identification on agricultural lands
Two "get to know your watershed" tours and a river cleanup day
Placement of signs at the watershed boundaries
Establishment of a river-focused science curriculum in three area high schools
Stream habitat improvements
Belleville is studying a millpond restoration project that will incorporate a river by-pass into deepening the lake and restoring adjoining wetlands. The Upper Sugar River Initiative, the City of Belleville, Dane County, Town of Montrose, the Army Corps of Engineers and the WNDR are all participating in the planning and support of the project
A wetland restoration project in the City of Verona is scheduled for construction this summer.

Site of wetland restoration project in the City of Verona. High School is in upper left.

Last Revised: Monday August 07 2006