Building Resilience in the Face of Extreme Weather

Over the last few years, Madison has experienced a number of severe weather events. This year, Wisconsin witnessed its first tornado in the month of February. This is a phenomenon previously unheard of in our winter months. This tornado, coupled with a year of wet conditions following last year's drought, highlight the new variability of our weather patterns. These shifts are not anomalies but a clear indication of the changing climate affecting our community.

These dramatically changing conditions will strain our natural and built environments, posing significant challenges to our infrastructure and public safety. Since the flooding events of 2018, the City of Madison has been studying what stormwater infrastructure is needed to be resilient to a changing climate. We are reviewing each of Madison’s 22 watersheds to identify top needs. Additionally, in the last five years, the City has invested almost $50M into making our stormwater systems more resilient. This stormwater work is vital to address flood-prone areas across the city in a more equitable way.

Unfortunately, climate projections indicate that Madison will become wetter in a changing climate. In response, the City of Madison is actively enhancing our nature-based solutions. We are investing in our urban tree canopy, because trees provide cleaner water, reduce stormwater runoff, and lower air temperature. We are also supporting native planting in our stormwater management system. The improved infiltration capacity of native prairie plants makes them an excellent choice for stormwater ponds and greenways. These nature-based solutions are part of a broader commitment to safeguard our community and ensure that Madison remains a safe and vibrant place to live.

Much of our progress would not be possible without the support of President Biden's climate plan, which has provided invaluable resources to bolster our efforts. We are grateful for this federal support, which has significantly enhanced our capacity to address the challenges posed by climate change. However, more can and should be done at the state level. Our legislature has a surplus that could be utilized to further strengthen community resilience against the infrastructure challenges posed by extreme weather. By investing in Wisconsin’s infrastructure, state lawmakers could also protect their communities from severe weather. 

Nevertheless, the City of Madison will continue to invest in resilient infrastructure and work to reduce community-wide emissions. Together, these goals will help diminish the frequency and severity of future extreme weather events and help us prepare for those that do come. This ongoing work will ensure that our city is building a safer and more resilient future.