Dane County Announces Recipients for Lake Clean-up Partnership Program

February 05, 2016
Stephanie Miller: 608-267-8823
County Executive

Five projects in local communities will receive a total of over $600,000 as part of Dane county’s “Urban Water Quality Grant Program”. The selected projects in Madison, Fitchburg, Sun Prairie and Monona directly address urban runoff and help clean area lakes, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi announced today. Dane County’s successful cost share program assists municipalities in constructing storm water management facilities that capture trash and phosphorus-laden debris, such as yard and pet waste, from washing directly into lakes and streams during heavy rain or snow melts. “Working together with local municipalities, toward a shared goal, we are able to get more done and make a bigger impact than we could alone,” Dane County Executive Joe Parisi said. “Every pound of phosphorus removed from the watershed prevents 500 pounds of algae growth, a big step in improving the quality of our waters.” When complete, together these projects will prevent nearly 72,000 pounds of sediment and 211 pounds of phosphorus from getting into our waters. Since 2005, the county’s Urban Water Quality grants have helped fund projects totaling almost $10 million dollars and are estimated to have removed more than half a million pounds of debris and more than 2,000 pounds of phosphorus from our lakes and waterways annually. Phosphorus is the main cause of algae in our area lakes. To encourage projects in key areas that discharge large amounts of phosphorus and sediment, municipalities in the top ten targeted areas receive an enhanced cost-sharing rate of 75%. Other municipalities with qualifying projects outside the targeted areas receive a cost-sharing rate up to 50% (not to exceed $100,000). Funded projects are required to be constructed and fully functional by the end of 2016. Pending final approval by the Dane County Board, the funds will be available for projects early as this spring. Funding criteria and application information are available online: http://lwrd.countyofdane.com/wred/Assistance/uwqg.aspx. # # # Sponsor Project Title Project Cost Grant Award City of Madison Cherokee Pond at Wheeler Road $300,000 $100,000 City of Fitchburg Lacy Heights Bioretention $68,289 $34,145 City of Fitchburg McKee Farms Pond Improvements $212,270 $100,000 City of Monona Graham Park, Pirate Island, Winnequah Park Improvements $423,200 $317,400 City of Sun Prairie Liberty Square Stormwater Facility Improvements $183,219 $50,000 TOTAL $601,545