Multi-Stakeholder Planning for Stormwater Management in the Lake Wingra Watershed

Urban stormwater runoff has degraded the 1,260 acre University of Wisconsin-Arboretum. An innovative, watershed-wide, multi-stakeholder stormwater management planning effort facilitated by the University of Wisconsin is being used to guide remediation of failing stormwater management facilities. Beginning with a watershed-wide stormwater management plan created with a community group (the Friends of Lake Wingra), a facility stormwater management planning process was developed for the UW-Arboretum property surrounding Lake Wingra (Madison, WI). The subsequent 2-year collaboration between Arboretum ecologists, adjoining municipalities and stormwater management engineers resulted in a plan identifying stormwater management options for each of eight major urban stormwater outfalls. While differences in knowledge and values among the participating professions initially inhibited close collaboration, using a facilitated, iterative process of dialog and plan review improved cross-discipline communication and respect, allowing the planning effort to come to fruition. The centerpiece of the plan was a unique set of stormwater management values and guiding principles that reflect the UW-Arboretum's mission of "conserving and restoring Arboretum lands, advancing restoration ecology, and fostering the land ethic." These values and guiding principles served as a touchstone for resolving inter-disciplinary differences during the planning process. Consequently, this stormwater planning effort and its subsequent implementation, were notable for the degree of cross-disciplinary collaboration among engineers, municipal managers, restoration ecologists and the public. The outcomes of this planning activity include: (1) An inter-governmental agreement (IGA) allocating funding for stormwater improvements that is pro-rated by runoff contributing area; (2) Source water infiltration, treatment and flow reduction in the contributing watershed; (3) Creation of innovative stormwater treatment, research and outreach facilities at the UW- Arboretum; (4) Stormwater management self-assessment by businesses in the watershed; (5) Teaching and research on stormwater best management practices (BMPs) and ecological impacts; (6) Reduction of impacts to Arboretum natural areas and watershed ecosystems. This experience serves as a case study example for the many other instances where engineers must engage in multi-stakeholder or cross-disciplinary planning activities.