Pepin County, Wisconsin is home to many dairy farms which commonly use animal manure as fertilizer for fields. High concentrations of the nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium make the manure an effective fertilizer. However, this can result in runoff containing high levels of these nutrients which can lead to damage of ecosystems, health risks, and […]
In 2020, University of Wisconsin-Madisonresearchers and Pepin County staff studiedfarmer attitudes about nitrogen use, as part of a UniverCity Alliance partnershipto research key issues facing the community.Nitrogen is needed and used on cropland to support agriculture within Pepin County and throughout the state. However, nitrate contamination of groundwater and associated health impacts are a growing […]
This report was created by a team of graduate students in the Urban and Regional Planning master’sdegree program at University of Wisconsin–Madisonon behalf of the City of Durand, Wisconsin. The project came to life througha partnership with the UniverCity Alliance program, where students, faculty,and professionalstaffin the University of Wisconsin system collaborated with local officials on […]
Read More… from Downtown revitalization and redevelopment plan for Durand
Wastewater treatment is the process of removing contaminants and creating an effluent that can be returned to the water cycle with minimal impacts. Municipal wastewater treatment includes streams from household sewage and sometimes industrial wastewater. Physical, chemical, and biological processes can be used to remove contaminants, including excessive nutrients, to produce an effluent that is […]
Read More… from The Village of Monticello Wastewater Treatment Facility
The WI DNR has changed legislation regarding phosphorus levels in municipal wastewater. The change, lowering standards from 4.8 mg/L to 0.075mg/L, created noncompliance issues for the Browntown, WI municipal wastewater treatment facility. The system operator, Rob, has emphasized that any changes to the system must comply with the city’s public budget of $270,000 (for all […]
The Village of Monticello wants Lake Montesian to be a beautiful landmark of the town that can also provide a healthy population of fish to support fishing activities. In addition to the lake’s aesthetic and practical functions, residents also enjoy using the island in the middle as a location for special events such as weddings […]
The purposes of this report include assessment of current approaches to nutrient management that have potential for phosphorus reduction in Dane County’s lakes and watershed system. Building upon initiatives Wisconsin, and comparing initiatives with other states, three options towards nutrient management proved most compelling. Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner. […]
In an effort to reduce the amount of phosphorus in the Rock River Basin throughout Dane County, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concerted an effort to select several target areas most vulnerable to pollution from phosphorus and other contributing factors of ecosystem degradation. Due to the concentration […]