By Topf Wells

The Capital Area Regional Planning Commission (CARPC) is the regional planning commission for Dane County. Part of its mission is to share in the study and care of water quality in Dane County. Following the severe floods of the last few years in the Black Earth Creek watershed, CARPC convened a committee of local, state, and federal officials and concerned citizens to explore whether green infrastructure could mitigate floods and improve water quality in the watershed. SWTU participates in the study and its implementation.

With gobs (to use the approved bureaucratic word) of technical analysis and citizen input, the study concluded that green infrastructure could do both. Green infrastructure is an approach to stormwater management that seeks to more closely mimic natural hydrologic functions by using soil and plants to treat, infiltrate, and evapotranspirate rainwater near where it falls – in contract to traditional grey infrastructure using concrete and pipes to remove stormwater quickly from its source. A restored wetland could be an example of green infrastructure. The plan has not sat on a shelf but has been used to plan and obtain grants for some great projects.

A great example will soon occur on Brewery Creek in Cross Plains. Brewery is an important tributary to Black Earth Creek and a surprisingly good trout stream in its own right. It’s also a source of sediment to BEC and a flood risk to Cross Plains. The Village will restore the creek, its floodplain, and some wetlands where it flows through part of the Village. The stream will be re-meandered as part of the work. The creek will become much more of a boost to BEC, an asset to Village residents (and less of a threat), and a healthier home for trout.

Topf Wells has served for several years as the SWTU rep on the Green Infrastructure Committee. We need someone from SWTU to take his place. The meetings are quarterly, attendable via Zoom, and are well organized. Please contact Topf (topfwells@gmail.com) if you will consider serving.