| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 59.88 |
| Liaison | Alex Frank |
| Submission Date | April 14, 2022 |
University of Wisconsin-Madison
OP-22: Rainwater Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 2.00 |
Alex
Frank Sustainability Analyst Office of Sustainability |
Which of the following best describes the institution’s approach to rainwater management?:
A brief description of the institution’s green infrastructure and LID practices:
UW-Madison has implemented rain gardens, permeable pavement, green roofs, and stormwater ponds. Campus Planning & Landscape Architecture maintains an inventory of green infrastructure visible via map here: https://cpla.fpm.wisc.edu/landscape-architecture/green-infrastructure/
The Green Infrastructure and Stormwater Management Master Plan (https://d1t7dpw65z19lw.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2017/10/Appen-2-Green-Infrastructure-MP-2016-1019-low-res-1.pdf) includes five categories of recommendations to promote sustainable stormwater management:
"1. Stormwater Performance Standards and Policies: This section provides a discussion on the current and proposed stormwater management performance standards which individual construction projects on campus are required to achieve, as well as alternatives to achieving the standards where it is not feasible.
2. Multi-Site Green Infrastructure Practices: This section describes structural green infrastructure practices, or BMPs, which if implemented would provide treatment on a larger scale than just one building site and which may include street right-of-ways and other parts of campus which are not necessarily slated for a redevelopment project.
3. Site-Based Green Infrastructure Practices: This section offers descriptions of structural BMPs which could be used on individual redevelopment project sites to achieve the proposed performance standards, and summarizes the list of BMPs in a matrix to allow UW–Madison staff and design teams to easily identify site appropriate BMPs as projects are planned for development.
4. Opportunities with Future Land Use Changes: This section highlights the most significant areas of campus which are planned for redevelopment and describes the impact of the proposed land use changes on the overall campus stormwater management and green infrastructure objectives and permit requirements.
5. Opportunities with Utility Improvement Projects: This section identifies planned utility improvement projects which will disturb areas of campus and which may provide an opportunity to implement green infrastructure practices which may not be advanced through other means."
A copy of the institution’s rainwater management policy, plan, and/or guidelines:
A brief description of the institution’s rainwater management policy, plan, and/or guidelines that supports the responses above:
As part of the Campus Master Plan, The Green Infrastructure and Stormwater Management Master Plan's (plan) primary purpose is to identify green infrastructure opportunities so that they can be appropriately budgeted and accommodated during site planning. The three main goals of this plan are:
1. Implement stormwater practices and policies that contribute to healthy Yahara Lakes
2. Integrate research and learning into the campus stormwater management approach
3. Connect campus stormwater management to the wider Yahara Lakes watershed community
Section 5.3 (beginning on page 84) of the plan contains details on the best management practices which have been identified as opportunities on the UW–Madison campus.
While encouraged, the policies and practices recommended in the plan are not mandatory.
Furthermore, all UW System institutions adhere to State policies in new construction and major renovations that dictate Low Impact Development practices for stormwater control on construction sites for any state-controlled land. Wisconsin Administrative codes NR 216, NR 151, and SPS 60 establish standards regulating soil erosion and protecting the quality of Wisconsin’s ground and surface water. The Department of Safety and Professional Services website for the Division of Industry Services Soil Erosion Program and DNR Construction Site Erosion Control and Stormwater Management can provide detailed information (https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/stormwater/construction/erosion_control.html). The Department of Administration-Division of Facilities Development & Management has adopted sustainable design practices for both erosion control and permanent stormwater management measures. Permanent storm water management measures must be incorporated into the final site and plumbing design in accordance with SPS 60 and NR 151, as well as the institution’s WPDES permit to discharge stormwater, on all construction sites disturbing one or more acres. Sediment and Erosion Control Plans shall meet the following objectives: prevent loss of soil during construction by stormwater runoff and/or wind erosion, including protecting topsoil by stockpiling for reuse, prevent sedimentation of storm sewer or receiving streams, and prevent polluting the air with dust and particulate matter.
Stormwater management is dictated through State of Wisconsin Statutes NR 151: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/nr/100/151
The Division of Facilities Development’s Sustainability Guidelines for Capital Projects (https://doa.wi.gov/DFDM_Documents/MasterSpecs/Sustainability/DFD%20Sustainability%20Guidelines%20for%20Capital%20Projects%20-%20V3%20-%20Dec%202021.pdf) also has an encouraged measure for infiltration and stormwater volume control:
"For new development, maintain 60-90% of pre-development infiltration volume depending on site imperviousness.
Or abide by the local ordinances, whichever is more stringent."
Website URL where information about the institution’s green infrastructure and LID practices is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.