By Topf Wells
Badger Mill Creek faces a severe threat. A big part of the stream’s flow (35-60% depending on conditions) is highly treated, aerated effluent from the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD). MMSD started sending this water to the creek about 25 years ago to compensate for the groundwater being pumped out of the creek’s watershed and to help the creek. This water is one reason Badger Mill has steadily improved as a trout stream.
Now MMSD contemplates shutting off all that water to the creek. By doing so, they eliminate any phosphorus they are introducing to the creek and comply with a DNR regulation. The problems are that stopping the water reduces habitat for trout and other aquatic life, weakens the stream’s thermal stability, and increases its vulnerability to climate change. That will hurt the creek a lot and could ruin it in the face of prolonged heat waves and drought that climate change will cause.
MMSD has three viable alternatives to comply with regulations. It can filter phosphorus out at its treatment plant or work with local partners to reduce phosphorus running off to the creek in a trading or adaptive management. Any of those options would improve water quality in the creek.
SWTU has joined the Upper Sugar River Watershed Association, the City of Verona, the Town of Verona, the Town of Montrose, the Village of Belleville, and the Friends of Badger Mill Creek in asking that MMSD continue the flow water to Badger Mill Creek and choose one of the other three alternatives. Several of these organizations and SWTU have sent a letter to MMSD that further explains this issue.
The MMSD Commission will discuss Badger Mill Creek at its 4/27 meeting and choose a course of action at its May meeting. We need to contact MMSD Commissioners before 4/27 and ask that they protect Badger Mill Creek by continuing to supply the creek with the water.
The best way to do so is via email. The MMSD website is at madsewer.org. Click on Contact and fill out the email message form. When you do so, please ask that your email be directed to each of the Commissioners.
For 30 years, SWTU has volunteered hundreds of hours and donated thousands of dollars to improve Badger Mill Creek for trout and fishers. PLEASE CONTACT MMSD TO CONTINUE OUR STEWARDSHIP OF THE CREEK.
Thank you.
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Posted: April 5, 2023 by Drew Kasel
Save Badger Mill Creek
Badger Mill Creek faces a severe threat. A big part of the stream’s flow (35-60% depending on conditions) is highly treated, aerated effluent from the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD). MMSD started sending this water to the creek about 25 years ago to compensate for the groundwater being pumped out of the creek’s watershed and to help the creek. This water is one reason Badger Mill has steadily improved as a trout stream.
Now MMSD contemplates shutting off all that water to the creek. By doing so, they eliminate any phosphorus they are introducing to the creek and comply with a DNR regulation. The problems are that stopping the water reduces habitat for trout and other aquatic life, weakens the stream’s thermal stability, and increases its vulnerability to climate change. That will hurt the creek a lot and could ruin it in the face of prolonged heat waves and drought that climate change will cause.
MMSD has three viable alternatives to comply with regulations. It can filter phosphorus out at its treatment plant or work with local partners to reduce phosphorus running off to the creek in a trading or adaptive management. Any of those options would improve water quality in the creek.
SWTU has joined the Upper Sugar River Watershed Association, the City of Verona, the Town of Verona, the Town of Montrose, the Village of Belleville, and the Friends of Badger Mill Creek in asking that MMSD continue the flow water to Badger Mill Creek and choose one of the other three alternatives. Several of these organizations and SWTU have sent a letter to MMSD that further explains this issue.
The MMSD Commission will discuss Badger Mill Creek at its 4/27 meeting and choose a course of action at its May meeting. We need to contact MMSD Commissioners before 4/27 and ask that they protect Badger Mill Creek by continuing to supply the creek with the water.
The best way to do so is via email. The MMSD website is at madsewer.org. Click on Contact and fill out the email message form. When you do so, please ask that your email be directed to each of the Commissioners.
For 30 years, SWTU has volunteered hundreds of hours and donated thousands of dollars to improve Badger Mill Creek for trout and fishers. PLEASE CONTACT MMSD TO CONTINUE OUR STEWARDSHIP OF THE CREEK.
Thank you.
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