Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 60.76
Liaison Brad Spanbauer
Submission Date March 4, 2022

STARS v2.2

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
OP-22: Rainwater Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Brad Spanbauer
Campus Sustainability Officer
Campus Sustainability Office
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Which of the following best describes the institution’s approach to rainwater management?:
Comprehensive policies, plans or guidelines that require LID practices for all new projects

A brief description of the institution’s green infrastructure and LID practices:

UW Oshkosh is committed to reducing the amount of total suspended solids coming off of campus 40 percent by 2013 (using 2006 baseline data). This target is based on state rules; UW campuses are treated as permitted municipalities under state stormwater regulations. In February of 2007, UW Oshkosh submitted an application to receive a Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) permit that governs the discharge of storm water from campus into the local storm water sewer system. The need for this permit developed in response to several Federal and State regulations pertaining to protection of clean water, including the Federal Clean Water Act 1972 and Wisconsin DNR Regulations NR 151, NR 216, and NR 116.

Prior to the enactment of the WPDES permit requirements, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh had undertaken the following steps related to storm water management:
a. Developed a storm water management plan.
b. Performed routine semi – annual cleaning of parking lots.
c. Performed routine litter patrols of the campus.
d. Required the mandatory installation of silt fences around construction sites.

Mandated by state stormwater management guidelines.


A copy of the institution’s rainwater management policy, plan, and/or guidelines:
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A brief description of the institution’s rainwater management policy, plan, and/or guidelines that supports the responses above:

The main goals of this plan are to provide a guide to meet storm water regulations for the current state of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh campus as well as proposed growth. The regulations that will be of concern for the UW Oshkosh campus are NR 116, NR 151, and NR 216.

NR 116 governs future development in floodplain areas.

NR 151 governs storm water requirements for future building projects including reconstruction projects and new development.

Construction of bio-filters throughout existing parking lots, sidewalk areas and roofs.

Construction of drainage swales with native vegetation to route drainage instead of having direct connections to storm sewer from impervious surfaces.

Because of the large areas of green space, the most cost effective BMP’s would be biofilters/bioretention devices, rain gardens and drainage swales to treat water instead of ponds, porous pavements, and proprietary devices to meet the 20 percent and 40 percent TSS removal requirements. However, these BMP’s may be a viable option for future development governed by NR 151 requirements.


Website URL where information about the institution’s green infrastructure and LID practices is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

UW Shared:
A brief description of the institution’s green infrastructure and LID practices

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 is dictated through State of Wisconsin Statutes NR 151: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/nr/100/151

Lastly, site development requirements were previously integrated into the State of Wisconsin's Sustainable Facilities Standards and include:
1) Reduced Site Disturbance: Development Footprint
2) Permanent Stormwater Management: Discharge Rate and Volume per DNR 151
3) Permanent Stormwater Management: Quality Treatment per DNR 151


UW Shared:
A brief description of the institution’s green infrastructure and LID practices

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 is dictated through State of Wisconsin Statutes NR 151: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/nr/100/151

Lastly, site development requirements were previously integrated into the State of Wisconsin's Sustainable Facilities Standards and include:
1) Reduced Site Disturbance: Development Footprint
2) Permanent Stormwater Management: Discharge Rate and Volume per DNR 151
3) Permanent Stormwater Management: Quality Treatment per DNR 151

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.