Tuesday Round Up (10//8/19) & Mo’ Meetings

Cancelled meetings, News, Starkweather Creek PFAS statement from Mayor, flooding updates and more.

MO’ MEETINGS – CANCELLED

Cancelled at the county due to Yom Kippur
– 10/9 Office of Equity and Inclusion & EOC meeting (no irony there!)
– 10/9 Commission on Economic & Workforce Development
– 10/9 Airport Commission

NEWS

City
DNR: High levels of PFAS found in Starkweather Creek, Wisconsin River – State Journal
‘Tell more of us’: What the Reindahl Imagination Center would mean for Madison – The Daily Cardinal
New Strategies, technology, aim to keep pedestrians, bicyclists safe in high-crash intersections – Channel3000.com
Will the wheel tax roll? – Isthmus (Citizen Dave)
Madison Finance Committee recommend $4.1 million for affordable housing – State Journal
PFAS found in Starkweather Creek – WKOW Channel 27

County
Nothing? Again.

Schools
UWPD says most pedestrian, biker related crashes are preventable – Channel3000.com
Monona Grove School District to bar Halloween costumes, parades at elementary schools – State Journal
UW-Madison earns silver in its first sustainability ranking – State Journal

Other/Mixed
‘Derailed’ tells the story of the Wisconsin high-speed rail line that wasn’t – Cap Times
Lawmakers to consider resolution in support of F-35 jets at Truax Field – State Journal
GOP lawmakers introduce resolution in support of basing F-35s at Truax Field – WKOW – Channel 27

CITY UPDATES

Street Closure – 200 N Baldwin St. – starting Wed. Oct 9 – Fri. Oct 11

Statement from the Office of Mayor Rhodes-Conway Regarding PFAS Testing Results from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in Starkweather Creek

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) released results of surface water testing for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that they conducted along Starkweather Creek and four other locations statewide. The City wants to inform the public that the following steps are being taken to address this ongoing issue.

• The City of Madison has repeatedly requested that the Air National Guard conduct a complete site investigation into the extent and magnitude of soil and groundwater PFAS contamination on the Truax base. The City will again repeat this request—that the site investigation be completed and that a remedial action plan be implemented as soon as possible.
• The results of this initial round of PFAS testing in Starkweather Creek do not impact the safety of Madison’s drinking water. Madison’s wells draw water from a deep sandstone aquifer below the city, not from surface water. Madison Water Utility hopes to receive results from PFAS testing of the city’s seasonal wells (wells used primarily in the summer and fall) this week, including Well 8, which is located near the creek.
• Fish tissue samples from the Starkweather Creek outlet to Lake Monona are currently being tested for PFAS with results expected in the spring of 2020. Residents and visitors to Madison should continue to follow the fish consumption advisory from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in place for PCBs and mercury. The advisory recommends limiting fish consumption for children under 15 and women who are breastfeeding, pregnant, or may become pregnant. The City is also increasing signage related to PFAS contamination and fish advisories around Starkweather Creek.
• Residents can take action to protect themselves from PFAS and other contaminants while using Madison’s waterways:
  • Follow the Dane County fish consumption advisories.
  • Avoid drinking or accidentally swallowing the water.
  • Wash your hands after wading or playing in the water.
  • Do not let your pet drink the creek water and rinse pets after contact with the water to avoid them licking PFAS that may be on their fur.
• As the City continues to monitor surface and drinking water for PFAS, it is important to note that thousands of PFAS chemicals are in production across the world and people are exposed to these chemicals in a number of ways. To reduce PFAS exposure:
  • Check product labels for ingredients that include the words “fluoro” or “perfluoro.”
  • Be aware of packaging for foods that contain grease-repellent coatings. Examples include microwave popcorn bags and fast food wrappers and boxes.
  • Avoid stain-resistance treatments. Choose furniture and carpets that aren’t marketed as “stain-resistant,” and don’t apply finishing treatments to these or other items. Choose alternatives to clothing that has been treated for water or stain resistance, such as outerwear and sportswear, luggage, and camping and sporting equipment.
  • Avoid or reduce use of non-stick cookware and stop using products if non-stick coatings show signs of deterioration.
• The City will continue to work with all parties to protect public health, and requests that the Wisconsin DNR conduct additional testing to identify PFAS sources.

Pick Up Your Copy of the Capital City Hues – October 7th Edition

City Engineering expects the dry forecast for this week to likely help lower lake levels. The next significant threat of rain is expected Thursday, Oct. 10. City officials will monitor the forecast and provide more information later this week.

Lake Monona has gone down slightly since last Saturday, and we expect this to continue through at least Thursday. Lake Mendota is cresting. Dane County may need to increase the flow out of the Tenney Dam this week to lower Lake Mendota. This may have a minor impact on the water levels on the Yahara River through the isthmus.

City crews will continue to monitor the flow in the Yahara River, the release rate at the Tenney Dam, the weather forecast and any potential impacts on streets and bike paths.

Current Lake levels: Oct. 7, 2019

• Lake Mendota
  • Current elevation: 852.09 feet
  • Up 0.01 feet from Oct. 6, 2019
  • 0.71 feet below the 100-year flood (which is 852.80 feet)
  • 0.65 feet below historic high (Historic High is 852.74, June 6, 2000)
• Lake Monona
  • Current elevation: 847.58 feet
  • Down 0.07 feet from Oct. 6, 2019
  • 0.12 feet below 100-year flood (which is 847.7 feet)
  • 0.95 feet below the historic high (which is 848.53 feet, Sept. 6, 2018)

Over the weekend, Madison received about a half of inch of rain on Saturday, and there were no reports of urban flash flooding. City crews were prepared to respond just in case.

Residents should stay informed even when the City isn’t experiencing a flooding event, by visiting the City’s flooding website. Residents should also report flooding on the City’s report flooding form.