Keeping our community resilient to Flooding
/After seeing the devastating flooding that so many of our friends in Milwaukee have been impacted by, it was an uncomfortable reminder of the flooding in the summer of 2018. Although we can't say this specific event was the result of climate change, the data overwhelmingly shows that the probability of these extreme flooding and climate events is increasing at an alarming pace while our federal government doubles down on all the climate denial and fossil fuels that got us here in the first place.
Since the 2019 budget, we have been focusing on a number of initiatives in Dane County and we have been giving quarterly updates on our progress. Those initiatives include:
* A multi-phases program of sediment removal and dredging to move 1 inch of rain the through the Yahara Chain of Lakes in 4 days rather 7 days.
* Investing heavily in land purchases, wetlands revival and conservation practices to keep rain where it falls.
* Partnering with local municipalities in Dane County through the Madison Area Municipal Stormwater Partnership (MAMSWaP) to reduce adverse impacts to water quality and better manage stormwater.
* Using what levers we have to balance lake levels in the chain of lakes by managing outflows from Lake Mendota through the Tenney Dam. 1 inch of water released from Lake Mendota causes a 3 inch rise on Lake Monona
* Publicly reporting progress on all these initiatives in joint meetings with the Lakes and Watershed Commission and Land Conservation Committee. I have had the honor of chairing many of these joint meetings.
Like many parts of the world, we are hoping we are not hit with the severe weather that climate change has made more frequent. However, we are working continuously to mitigate the impacts of climate change through preparation, investment, and adaptive practices.