Environmental Corridors are continuous systems of open space in urban and urbanizing areas. These corridors include environmentally sensitive lands, natural resources requiring protection from disturbance and development, and lands needed for open space and recreational use.
Delineating Environmental Corridors is part of a larger regional framework that includes focusing growth in urban areas and preserving farmland. CARPC works with local units of government in the region to delineate Environmental Corridors during the sewer service area planning and amendment process.
CARPC is currently updating the Environmental Corridors Report that was originally published in 1996. This update process will consist of reviewing and updating the current sections (e.g. wetlands and 1% annual chance floodplains) and adding new information related to recommended Stewardship Areas (e.g. potentially restorable wetlands and 0.2% annual chance floodplains).
Stewardship Areas are advisory areas to consider for inclusion from a stewardship/planning standpoint to enhance the environmental corridor functions. They include additional lands and resources that should be considered for placement in environmental corridors as urban development expands. Encouraging the placement of Stewardship Areas into Environmental Corridors is a key development strategy for achieving the conservation goals established in the 2050 Regional Development Framework. Learn more about Stewardship Areas by watching our August 2021 webinar on Environmental Corridors.
A steering committee made up of representatives from state and county government, local municipalities, non-profit organizations, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison has been formed and will be meeting monthly throughout 2022 to develop the report. The first steering committee meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 26th.
If you are interested in learning more about this effort, please contact Melissa Breyer, Environmental Resources Planner, at melissab@capitalarearpc.org.
