One of CARPC’s core responsibilities is maintaining and updating the Dane County Water Quality Plan, the region’s long-term framework for protecting and improving water quality. First adopted in 1979, the Plan has continued to evolve as our region—and the challenges facing its water resources—have changed.
Earlier this year, we began taking a fresh look at the Plan’s central component and how it can better serve Dane County communities today. The goal is to create something that goes beyond documenting water quality issues and policies. We want a practical framework that helps communities and partners understand shared priorities, identify opportunities for action, and work together to protect and improve the region’s water resources.
Reflecting that shift, the updated document will be renamed the Water Quality Management Framework (WQMF).
Where We Are Now + What We’ve Heard
This summer, we focused on hearing directly from the communities, agencies, and organizations working on water quality across Dane County. Through a stakeholder survey and two in-person workshops, we asked what challenges they’re seeing, where more support and coordination are needed, and what the new framework should help us accomplish together.
Thank you to everyone who has shared their time, perspectives, and feedback with us so far!
From Our Survey
In May and June 2026, 42 people representing 39 organizations across Dane County communities, state and local agencies, watershed associations, and wastewater treatment facilities shared their perspectives.
A few clear themes emerged:
Runoff and nutrient pollution rose to the top.
Nutrient loading from agricultural and urban runoff was the most frequently mentioned water quality issue, with respondents particularly concerned about phosphorus and nitrate pollution in lakes, rivers, and streams. Chlorides, PFAS, and microplastics were also identified as contaminants of concern.
Growth is putting more pressure on water resources.
About one-third of respondents identified development and economic pressures as a concern, particularly the challenge of accommodating growth while protecting water resources and groundwater supplies.
Climate change and extreme weather are creating additional challenges.
Respondents were particularly concerned about heavier precipitation, flooding, and the need to manage runoff from high-volume events. Weather volatility and drought-like conditions were also identified as concerns, though to a lesser extent.
The existing Dane County Water Quality Plan isn’t being widely used.
Most respondents said they don’t regularly use or reference many components of the current Plan. That reinforced one of the goals of this update: creating a framework that is more relevant and useful to the communities and organizations doing this work.
From Our Workshops
We took those findings into two stakeholder workshops in July, where representatives from Dane County communities, agencies, and environmental organizations shifted the conversation from what challenges we’re facing to what we can do about them.
Participants explored potential goals and strategies around five key areas: land use, pollution prevention, climate resilience, resource management, and regional coordination.
A few bigger ideas emerged:
Aim for improvement, not just protection.
Participants want to actively improve water quality beyond current conditions, rather than simply slow further degradation, with a long-term goal of exceeding established water quality standards.
Take stormwater management to the next level.
Participants emphasized green infrastructure, nature-based solutions, and pervious surfaces as ways to manage flooding, improve water quality, and build climate resilience. Ideas included establishing a regional green infrastructure working group, enhancing stream buffers, and exploring opportunities for hydraulic and hydrologic modeling across Dane County watersheds.
Balance urban density and stormwater management.
Participants also explored how to accommodate dense urban development while still managing stormwater effectively and protecting water quality. Ideas included studying how much impervious surface watersheds can accommodate while maintaining water quality, assessing local subdivision stormwater regulations, and prioritizing pervious surfaces in sensitive watersheds.
Take a big-picture approach to pollution control.
Participants identified opportunities to better coordinate efforts to measure, address, and prevent contamination of shared water resources. Ideas included coordinated water quality monitoring and examining the implications of applying biosolids to agricultural fields and other lands.
Help communities protect drinking water.
Participants discussed empowering residents and communities to more actively protect groundwater supplies. Ideas included wellhead protection workshops and education for private well owners on well protection, maintenance, and testing.
Build understanding and action around water quality.
Participants saw opportunities to create a common language and more consistent messaging around why water quality matters, how it affects people’s lives, and what individuals can do to help. Ideas included coordinated public outreach and helping residents advocate for policies and funding that support water quality protection.
Workshop attendees generally agreed that funding, along with limitations within the existing regulatory and political landscape, remains one of the biggest obstacles to putting these ideas into action. Despite those barriers, participants expressed optimism about the progress we can make by working together.
What’s Next + How to Get Involved
The feedback we’ve received so far is helping us turn these broad ideas into goals and potential actions for the Water Quality Management Framework.
This fall, a Technical Advisory Committee will take a closer look at that work, meeting from September through November to provide technical feedback and help refine the framework’s goals and recommended actions.
A draft of the Water Quality Management Framework will be available for stakeholder and public review later in 2026.
There are still opportunities to be part of the process. You can:
- Share feedback anytime by emailing PublicComment@capitalarearpc.org.
- Sign up for CARPC’s newsletter to follow the project and learn about upcoming opportunities to participate.
- Visit the Dane County Water Quality Plan website to learn more about the existing Plan and the update process.
