DCPCUP-0000-01484 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MEMORANDUM TO: Mark Roffers,Dept. Planning&Development FROM: Sue Jones,Lakes& Watershed Division SUBJECT: Verona Quarry on STH 69/Badger Mill Creek(CUP 1484) DATE: April 10, 1998 CC: Topf Wells Review of Woodward-Clyde report The Dane County Regional Hydrologic Study(August 1997)noted that declining groundwater levels have decreased the baseflow to streams and lakes, and gave the example that pumping from the City of Madison and private wells has caused noticeable reductions in Badger Mill Creek. I was therefore concerned about any potential for further flow reduction from this proposed gravel operation, and potential impacts on trout reproduction that may be caused by any temperature fluctuations in Badger Mill Creek. However I am not a hydrogeologist, and rely on the expertise of Ken Bradbury,who seems comfortable with the analysis and conclusions in the Woodward-Clyde report,that: • alteration of the groundwater flow system caused by the proposed mineral extraction will not produce any significant change in the Badger Mill Creek/Sugar River system. • presence of the ponds(constructed for"in the wet"gravel extraction) is not expected to negatively affect the temperature of groundwater discharge entering Badger Mill Creek or the Sugar River. I did find some contradictory statements in the Woodward-Clyde Report's"Summary of Conclusions" on page 4-1. Here, Woodward-Clyde's attempt to list potential positive aspects of the proposed gravel. operation appears to contradict an earlier section of the report. Item #5 on page 4-1 states that the ponds in the gravel operation could provide additional recharge to the groundwater system by allowing Badger Mill Creek floodwaters to flow into the ponds. This appears to contradict two earlier sections of their report: 1) the Plat of Existing Site map indicates that the ponds are outside of the 100 year floodplain, and so it would take a more extreme flood event for this to be true, and 2)page 3-1 states that fine- grained deposits accumulating in the pond bottom would block pores in the bottom of the pond, and decrease infiltration over time. Conditions of CUP approval If the ZNR grants CUP 1484,I would affirm the conditions contemplated for surface and groundwater protection in the staff Composite Report: • proposed condition#1 (Composite Report page 10)-that applicant must submit an erosion control plan and receive a permit prior to operations. Land Conservation Department staff have indicated that they will require land disturbances at the site to meet the county 7.5 tons/acre/year soil loss standard, and I also agree with that. • proposed condition#15 (Composite Report page 11)-that pumped groundwater remain on site. I also recommend that water levels be monitored, in addition to the contaminant monitoring already proposed in the staff report.