Fiscal Note
This resolution authorizes the City of Madison to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding regarding efforts to improve water quality in the Yahara River System lakes. The City will designate a representative to be part of a team to lead and coordinate implementation of the MOU, which will include studying ways to accomplish goals ranging from reducing nutrient levels in the lakes to reducing bacterial contamination at beaches. A preliminary goal of reducing annual phosphorus delivery to the lakes by 50% (50,000 pounds) will be agreed to as part of the Memorandum. A progress report is to be ready by December 31, 2011, and a "road map report" by June 30, 2012. The MOU will remain in effect until December 31, 2012 to guide the implementation plan and development of the Yahara Lakes Comprehensive Watershed Restoration Plan.
No appropriation is required at the present time, as existing staff will participate in the studies. Implementation of some components of the plan will likely require funding in future year capital and operating budgets.
Title
Authorizing the Mayor to enter into the Yahara Future Memorandum of Understanding with Dane County, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Regarding Efforts to Improve Water Quality in the Yahara River Chain of Lakes.
Body
WHEREAS, in February 2008 Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, City of Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, Department of Natural Resources Secretary Matthew Frank and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Secretary Rod Nilsestuen signed Yahara CLEAN (Capital Lakes Environmental Assessment and Needs), a Memorandum of Understanding forming a partnership to assess the nutrients, sediments and beach bacteria affecting the Yahara watersheds streams and lakes and to make recommendations on how to improve water quality in the Yahara River chain of lakes; and,
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Yahara CLEAN Memorandum of Understanding, the City has already undertaken numerous actions to assess and address the water quality of the Yahara River chain of lakes, including making storm water related improvements, performing phosphorus modeling of Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, and experimenting with water quality improvements at the City beaches; and,
WHEREAS, in September 2010 the Yahara CLEAN signatories and other interested parties prepared a report addressing the water quality of the Yahara River chain of lakes, "A CLEAN Future for the Yahara Lakes: Solutions for Tomorrow, Starting Today," (<http://www.yaharawatershed.org/articles/CLEAN_Report_090910.pdf>), which included a recommendation of a continued partnership between the Yahara CLEAN signatories; and,
WHEREAS, by entering into the Yahara Future Memorandum of Understanding with Dane County, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, the City will continue its commitment toward assessing and addressing the water quality of the Yahara River chain of lakes with the other interested parties in the watershed.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor is authorized to enter into the Yahara Future Memorandum of Understanding with Dane County, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Regarding Efforts to Improve Water Quality in the Yahara River Chain of Lakes, and any amendments thereto consistent with the initial terms of the Yahara Future Memorandum of Understanding and the recommendations of Yahara CLEAN.