The 2023 BMP MVPs
Progressive Stormwater Best Management Practices in Urban Service Area Amendment Proposals
In order to expand their urban service area boundaries, Dane County communities must first request an amendment to the state’s Areawide Water Quality Management Plan. An important component of these proposals is demonstrating how the development will mitigate potential impacts on water resources, particularly around stormwater best management practices.
While all development must meet state, county, and local stormwater management requirements, many developers and municipalities go above and beyond to achieve more progressive standards. In the face of climate change and a projected warmer and wetter climate in southern Wisconsin, such progressive stormwater controls will better mitigate the effects of urban development.
In 2023, several communities incorporated progressive stormwater controls into their urban service area amendment proposals, including:
- City of Middleton: The Redtail Ridge development team agreed to provide enough runoff volume control to maintain the post-development “stay-on” volume to 100% of the pre-development “stay-on” volume, for the average annual rainfall period.
- City of Stoughton: The Stone Crest development team agreed to provide enough runoff volume control to maintain the post-development “stay-on” volume to 100% of the pre-development “stay-on” volume, for the average annual rainfall period. They also agreed to enhance flood control practices and pursue restoration or improvement of wetlands located within the amendment area.
- City of Stoughton: The CTH B – STH 51 development team agreed to provide enough runoff volume control to maintain the post-development “stay-on” volume to 100% of the pre-development “stay-on” volume, for the average annual rainfall period and for the 1-, 2-, 10-, 100-, and 200-year, 24-hour design storms. They also agreed to pursue restoration or improvement of wetlands located within the amendment area.
- Village of Oregon: The Autumn Ridge development team agreed to provide enough runoff volume control to maintain the post-development “stay-on” volume to 100% of the pre-development “stay-on” volume for the 1-, 2-, 10-, and 50-year, 24-hour design storms for Phase III of the development area.
CARPC commends these municipalities, developers and their consultants, and everyone involved as our “BMP MVPs” of 2023. Going beyond the minimum stormwater standards moves us closer to the shared regional goals of improving water quality, reducing flood potential, increasing climate resilience, conserving fiscal resources, and improving quality of life.