Below is a press release from the County Executive's office about
environmental initiatives in the county budget. On the list below the
press release, you will note several bike projects included. I
personally don't know all that much about these projects, so you'll
have to check with your Co Sup to get details.
If anyone wants to testify in support of these projects, the County
Board will hold public hearings Thursday, October 23 at 7:00 PM.
Robbie
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For Immediate Release
DATE: September 29, 2008
Contact: Joshua Wescott, Office of the County Executive (608)
267-8823 or cell (608) 669-5606
County Executive Falk's 2009 Budget to Fight Floods, Launch New Lake
Clean-up Efforts, Reduce Run-off
Digester for Farm Manure, More Dollars to Keep Garbage out of Lakes Included
Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk announced today her 2009 budget
will continue and expand efforts to clean up the lakes and reduce the
effects of future flooding.
At a news conference overlooking Lake Mendota, Falk today announced
more than $15-million in water quality improvement and flood
prevention initiatives that will be in her 2009 county budget.
"Dane County citizens from every walk of life use our lakes every day
of the year fishing, boating, and catching some rest and relaxation.
That's why it's so important to protect our treasured waters and keep
them healthy, so families can enjoy the great outdoors right here
close to home," Falk said.
Falk's budget makes a significant investment in further reducing
run-off into the lakes. Up to $2.3 million in funding will be
available to continue planning and development of a manure digester
for dairy farmers in northwest Dane County.
"This digester will be a win-win for farmers and for our lakes," Falk
said. "By disposing of manure through this new kind of technology, we
keep our farmers on the land and algae-growing phosphorus out of our
waters."
Falk studied a farm this summer where a manure digester was used to
convert manure to energy and byproducts farmers safely applied to
their fields. Her budget will also include dollars to set up a loan
fund to help other farmers across Dane County who may be considering
construction of additional manure digesters.
"These digesters are another tool to help keep our waters blue," Falk
said. "They'll not only help reduce the number of weeds and algae in
our lakes, but will be an effective source of alternative energy.
There's a chance manure and other waste products could be a real cash
cow."
Falk's budget will pay for a study to evaluate whether similar
digesters could be used to generate energy from waste wood and
harvested lake weeds.
Falk is also increasing the amount of dollars available for a popular
county program that helps local communities retrofit storm-water
outlets to prevent the run-off of trash and sediment into the lakes.
Funding for this program will increase from $150,000 to $250,000 in
2009.
$150,000 in funding is also included for a separate study that will
utilize computer software and models to better track where the highest
levels of phosphorus enter the Yahara Chain of Lakes.
"From trapping more trash and using new digester technology to
tracking and stemming the flow of phosphorus, we're doing more to make
sure families can enjoy our lakes for generations to come," Falk said.
Falk's budget also includes $75,000 in funding for a brand new county
program to protect 12 miles of streams, creeks, and other waterways in
the Lake Mendota watershed through the development buffer strips.
These strips of grass reduce run-off from entering the small
tributaries that feed into Lake Mendota. In addition, Falk will
increase funding for a popular county program that opens up streams
for public fishing access to $300,000 next year (increased from
$200,000).
Her proposal includes a $7.5 million investment (an increase of $2.5
million) for the county's conservation fund which is used to protect
and preserve Dane County's rich natural resources. Falk's budget will
have $2.5 million for the county to acquire and restore drained
wetlands. That's a nearly $500,000 increase over 2008.
"Protecting wetlands helps protect our basements and communities from
flooding rains," Falk said. "These natural sponges keep a lot of water
out of our backyards. Without them, flooding problems like we saw
this past summer in places like Marshall would have been much worse."
In addition, she's proposing a first-of-its-kind county fund to help
local communities affected by flooding who aren't able to receive
state or federal funds. Falk will start the "Residential Flood Damage
Assistance" program with $200,000 to help buy-out homes severely
damaged by floods.
The budget has nearly $1,000,000 to refurbish the dam at Babcock Lake
and an additional $100,000 for work on a railroad bridge on Mud Lake
that once refurbished will help improve the flow of water out of Lake
Waubesa. "A better bridge means a better ability to bring down lake
levels when needed after heavy rains," Falk said. Another $100,000
will pay for state-of-the-art equipment and gauges to ensure the most
accurate and timely information on water levels and water quality are
available for the lakes and Black Earth Creek.
Design of a new bike trail north of Lake Mendota will also be funded
in Falk's budget ($5,000) along with dollars to build a brand new
trail linking Rockdale and Cambridge ($180,000). A popular county
bike grant program that works with towns, villages, and cities on
improving bicycling opportunities will also receive a $25,000 increase
in funding to $75,000. The budget also funds the Environmental
Council's grant program at $25,000 for conservation groups.
Many of the upgrades were recommended by the Dane County Lakes and
Watershed Commission. "I applaud County Executive Falk for increasing
our investment in our lakes, wetlands and upgrading locks," said
Supervisor Brett Hulsey, chair of the Lakes and Watersheds Commission.
"Restoring more wetlands, buffers, sewer outfalls, and upgrading our
locks will reduce flood risks and better enable us to control lake
levels. It will also help us clean up our lakes and beaches."
Falk will present her full budget to the county board this Wednesday.
# # #
LAND & WATER CAPITAL BUDGET
* = Part of Land & Water Legacy Fund
1. Conservation Fund. $7,500,000.
Fund is increased to support major, impending purchases and to
maintain purchasing power in light of using DNR Stewardship
reimbursements to offset debt service. Small capital projects to
improve bicycling opportunities will be an eligible activity in the
Local Government/Conservation Organization Grant Program.
*2. Stormwater Controls. $250,000.
Funding increased to fund more stormwater outlet upgrades.
*3. Streambank Protection. $75,000.
Partial county funding of buffer strips in the Lake Mendota Watershed
is now an eligible activity. GPR supported borrowing is decreased by
$25,000 in light of 2009 TRM grant from the DNR.
*4. Streambank Easement. $300,000.
Additional funding because the program is expanding to two additional
watersheds (Gordon and Vermont Creeks).
*5. Manure Digester. $370,000.
Complete current planning, initial funding for implementation of the
plan, revolving loan fund for phosphorous reduction, study of waste
wood, lake weed digester.
6. Park Development. $175,000.
7. Vehicle Replacement. $83,000.
Ski Trail Groomer, Utility Truck.
*8. Land and Water Drained Wetland Acquisition and Restoration. $2,500,000.
9. Lower Yahara Bike Trail. $100,000.
Includes Mud Lake RR Bridge.
10. Steward Lake Restoration. $200,000.
11. North Mendota Bike Trail Corridor Planning. $5,000.
*12. Environmental Council Small Capital Grants. $25,000.
13. Rockdale Trail Construction. $180,000.
*14. Babcock Lake and Dam Rehabilitation. $985,000.
15. New Property Stabilization. $100,000.
Boundary marking; removal of fences, dilapidated buildings; access.
16. Energy-efficient vehicles. $52,000.
*17. Residential Flood Damage Assistance. $200,000.
Buyouts of residences damaged by floods, cost share with local
governments, site must be restored to a condition that mitigates or
prevents floods, state or federal funds unavailable within a
reasonable time frame, 50% limit on county share unless the local
government faces extraordinary hardship or unless the site offers
extraordinary restoration opportunities.
*18. Lake, Stream, River Monitors, Gauges. $100,000.
Equipment needed for Yahara Lakes and Black Earth Creek monitoring.
*19. Phosphorous Modeling Software for Yahara Lakes. $150,000.
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