Last Updated: 07/07/2020

Project Description

The City of Madison is undertaking a watershed study in the Strickers/Mendota watershed (as shown below). The watershed study will identify causes of existing flooding and then look at potential solutions to try to reduce flooding. The study will use computer models to assist with the evaluations. A local consulting engineer, Brown and Caldwell, is performing this study.

For more information please see the Flash Flooding Story Map. *Note: Please view the story map using Firefox or Google Chrome browsers. Story maps are not viewable with Internet Explorer.

The Strickers/Mendota watershed drains to Lake Mendota.

Latest Update 

5/4/2020: 
The second public information meeting for Strickers/Mendota Watershed was held on March 9, 2020 at Asbury United Methodist Church in Madison, WI. View the March 9, 2020 Public Information No. 2 Presentation 

Read more in the press release: Closer to Possible Flooding Solutions: Engineers to Share Data 
Watershed Studies Frequently Asked Questions PDF 

Timeline

The studies are expected to take over 18 months. During this time, the city will look at watersheds as a whole to make sure solving a flooding problem upstream won’t push more water downstream and cause more flooding.

Focus Group Meetings 

The City of Madison Engineering Division hosted four on-site Focus Group meetings in the Strickers/Mendota Watershed, which are listed and mapped below:

• Julia Street, Baker Avenue, 8-9 a.m., Aug. 27, Corner of Julia Street and Julia Ct.
• Hickory Hollow, 12-1 p.m., Aug. 27, 15 Hickory Hollow Drive
• Baker Avenue, Lake Mendota, 6-7 p.m., Aug. 27, Corner of Baker Avenue and Lake Mendota Drive
• Longmeadow/Backbay Circle, 12-1 p.m., Sept. 9, Strickers Pond Pedestrian Path, 7214 Longmeadow Road

The meetings were requested by community members, and were open to the public, but the conversation was tailored to gather more information on flooding issues in the meeting area. During the focus group meetings, engineers met with groups of residents on site, in specific areas hit the hardest by flooding in the past few years, including the August 2018 flood event. The purpose of the focus group meetings was to gather flooding information based on residents’ experiences.

Press Release: Watershed focus group dates set for residents who experienced flooding
PDF information about Focus Groups with contact information PDF

Public Information Meetings

The second public information meeting for this watershed was held on March 9, 2020, at the Asbury United Methodist Church in Madison. View the March 9, 2020 Public Information No. 2 Presentation

The first public information meeting for this watershed was held on April 22, 2019.

April 22, 2019: Strickers/Mendota Public Information Meeting presentation

Watershed Study Information

To learn more about flash flooding and why we are completing a watershed study in this area please visit: Flash Flooding Resilience Story Map

You can also listen to a presentation about our watershed studies at: Watershed Studies 2019 Audio Presentation

Report Flooding

If anyone has experienced flooding, and is willing to share with the City, please report it on the City's website. Even if a homeowner reported flooding to 2-1-1, FEMA, or a City official, the City needs standardized information to create stormwater models that show existing flooding conditions. The flood data helps the City prioritize different flood projects and future watershed studies.

Additional Information

• City of Madison Flood Website
• Engineering Waterways Newsletter
• Flood Prevention Flyer and website
• LISTEN: Everyday Engineering Podcast Episode: Basement Drainage 
• LISTEN: Everyday Engineering Podcast Episode: Historic Flooding 
• LISTEN: Everyday Engineering Podcast Episode: What's going on with the Watershed?