City Engineering Stormwater Utility Vegetation Management Plan

Project Overview

Stormwater ponds and greenways create a network of vegetated corridors throughout the city. These spaces contribute to both the environment and Madisonian's quality of life.

The purpose of this plan is to create a framework for sustainable and resilient vegetation management. The plan shall reflect anticipated climate change impacts and respond to community concerns. This plan is specific to maintenance and vegetation goals of existing and future stormwater utility land at a citywide scale. This plan shall be evidence-based, incorporate public input, use available data mapping. This plan shall also incorporate research related to ecology, stormwater, biodiversity, and climate. This plan is subject to public comment and will have a final acceptance by the Board of Public Works.

This is NOT a plan for specific construction projects. Construction projects typically have their own public engagement process.  Additionally, this plan does not include lands managed by Parks Division or other city, county or state agencies.

The Draft Stormwater Utility Vegetation Management Plan is now available! Comments on this draft plan should be sent to enland@cityofmadison.com by December 30, 2024.

Public Involvement

Development of this plan included front-end engagement with the public to identify larger issues, community perceptions, and priorities related to vegetation management. A summary of this front end engagement can be found in the Public Engagement Summary.

Information in this summary includes input received at:

• East Side: November 1 at Hawthorne Library at 5:00 PM located at 2707 E Washington Avenue, Madison, WI 53704. 
• West Side: November 20th at Sequoya Library at 6:00 PM located at 4340 Tokay Blvd., Madison, WI 53711. 
• Online Option: November 28, 2023 at 5:30 pm on Zoom. 
• Online Survey 
  • January 24, 2024 – February 22, 2024 (results posted here)
• Table at Wisconsin Science Festival Science on the Square/ Madison Night Market Fusion: October 19, 2023.
• Table at Sustain Dane Annual Event: November 3, 2023

Volunteer Technical Experts

As part of plan development, the city solicited assistance from experts in the field of land management, stormwater engineering, climate change, conservation, native species, pollinators, water resources and other applicable topics.

We asked technical experts to:

• Answer questions related to plan development and stormwater vegetation. A summary of their responses, including an attachment with each individual response can be found below.
  •  Volunteer Expert Technical Response Summary
• Participate in a Workshop
  • Focus Group Workshop Summary
• Provide recommendations for vegetation management to address public concerns identified through engagement process.
  • Consultant Vegetation Management Recommendations

​​​​City Process, Meetings

• Board of Public Works: Aug. 23, 2023.  City of Madison Engineering staff provided a draft framework for development of the Stormwater Utility Vegetation Management Plan.
  • Framework Approach for Informational Purposes to the Board of Public Works
• Board of Public Works: March 6, 2024. City of Madison Engineering will provide an update on the public engagement process and next steps.
• Board of Public Works: June 26, 2024. City of Madison Engineering will provide an update on feedback received from the technical questionnaire and focus group workshop and next steps.