Stormwater received a grade of C (mediocre: requires attention) and dams received a report card grade of C+ (between good and mediocre).
Stormwater runoff, volume, intensity and pollutant loading impacts are a challenge in Wisconsin. There are about 4,000 dams in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) database and nearly 200 are considered “high hazard." Funding and resources are key to improving both category grades and safety.
In July 2021, the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin (LWVWI) was joined by authors from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) who gave 20-minute presentations and conducted a live question and answer (Q&A) conversation with panelists and the audience on how to raise the grades for stormwater and dams.
The presenters on the Section 2020 Infrastructure Report Card were Jake Brunoehler, ASCE-WI, P.E., Stormwater Lead Author, and Vik Verma, P.E. (Texas), Dams Author.
The following panelists also gave brief remarks and engaged in the Q&A discussion with attendees:
- Laura Herrick, Chief Environmental Engineer, Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
- Micki Klappa-Sullivan, Manager of Engineering Planning, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District
- Qian Liao, Associate Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin -Milwaukee
- Tanya Lourigan, Dam Safety Engineer, WDNR
- Pete Wood, Water Resources Engineer, WDNR
The program was recorded and is available to view here. Learn more about the League's series on infrastructure here and read the full ASCE Infrastructure Report here. You can view this article to see the series schedule.
This meeting was made possible thanks to the hard work of Carol Diggelmann and Louise Petering from LWVWI and Carl Sutter of ASCE. It was moderated by Anne Chartier from the League of Women Voters - Ashland/Bayfield Counties and produced by Debra Cronmiller (LWVWI Executive Director), Daniel Speracino, and Laura Gintz (LWVWI Legislative Coordinator and Administrative Assistant).
