Last Updated: 04/20/2021

Latest Update 

4/20/2021 Update: 
DATE CHANGE: The May 13, 2021 public information meeting has been rescheduled to 6 p.m., May 20, 2021.
The meeting will be held virtually on Zoom. Registration is required.
May 20, 2021 Public Information Meeting Registration

Project Overview

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.

Watershed Studies Frequently Asked Questions PDF 

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.

Project Schedule

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.

Project Limits 

New information will be posted soon.

Public Involvement

There are a number of points of contact during this project where the public is encouraged to give feedback as part of public information meetings and public hearings. Dates and times are indicated below:

Public Information Meetings

• May 20, 2021
  • A virtual public information meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., May 20, 2021, via Zoom. Registration is required.
  • May 20, 2021 Public Information Meeting Registration
• March 9, 2020 Public Information Meeting No. 2 PowerPoint Presentation
• April 22, 2019 Public Information Meeting No. 1 PowerPoint Presentation

Focus Group Meetings 

The City of Madison Engineering Division hosted four on-site Focus Group meetings in the Strickers/Mendota Watershed:

• 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

Additional Resources

• City of Madison Flood Website
• Flash Flooding Resilience Story Map  *Note: Please view the story map using Firefox or Google Chrome browsers. Story maps are not viewable with Internet Explorer.
• Watershed Frequently Asked Questions
• Engineering Waterways Newsletter 2020 Issue
• Watershed Studies 2019 Audio Presentation
• 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?   

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. Please report any flooding you’ve experienced.