Two Presentations: 1) The Greatest Places on Earth: Our Lakes, the Threats, the Remedies 2) Engaging Citizens in Urban Watershed Protection: A Case Study of the Westmorland Neighborhood
Stream: Water Resource Protection
10:45 AM - 11:45 AMFri
Woodland/Trillium
Climate ChangeStream: Water Resource Protection
Registration Required
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Presentation #1: The Greatest Places on Earth: Our Lakes, the Threats, the Remedies
(Topic: CC)
This presentation will outline the major threats facing our lakes: unwise development, weak zoning protections, failing septic systems, wakeboating, invasive species, climate change, short-term rentals. It will explore how things we do as visitors and property owners affect the water, and action we can take to protect the lakes for the long term. This is the subject of my upcoming book with UW Press, planned for fall 2022 release.
Presenter: Ted Rulseh
Presentation #2: Engaging Citizens in Urban Watershed Protection: A Case Study of the Westmorland Neighborhood
The City of Madison and Friends of Lake Wingra are collaborating on a study to investigate the effect of green infrastructure (GI) installations in the Westmorland Neighborhood on the reduction of stormwater impacts in the watershed. One of the project’s goals is to motivate property owners in the neighborhood to install GI, such as rain barrels and rain gardens, in their yards. We sent a survey to all residents on the Westmorland Neighborhood Association listserv to explore how the Friends of Lake Wingra’s outreach efforts and the city’s financial incentives have impacted residents’ perceptions of GI and their actions to protect their local waters. Most respondents have noticed GI installations in the neighborhood and feel positively about them. Reasons they cited included improving water quality, protecting wildlife habitat and reducing floods and erosion. Residents highlighted lack of time and not knowing who to contact as barriers to installing GI.
Presenters: Katy Bradford & Evelyn Hammond