By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
As efforts to grow and improve Whitewater’s stormwater infrastructure continue, city officials are again turning to a state agency for possible funding assistance.
The Common Council on April 7 gave the green light to apply for a so-called urban nonpoint source grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in two strategic sections of the community. If awarded, grant proceeds would go toward stormwater detention basin ponds.
The first area eyed for a new detention basin is the Whitewater Business Park, along state Highway 59 on the city’s northeast side. The second spot is the northwest side of the intersection of Harper and Janesville streets.
Provisions of DNR’s nonpoint source grant state awarded municipalities can receive funding of up to 50 percent per project, though the grant figure is capped at $150,000 per project.
Assistant City Manager Chris McDonell came before the council and proposed moving forward with the grant applications. McDonell said the funds could be applied to logistical tasks — engineering and, if necessary, land acquisition — as well as actual construction work.
“The goal of the basins is to reduce nonpoint source pollutant discharge and help reduce total suspended solids loadings to protect the water quality and recreational use of the waters within the Lower Rock River Basin,” McDonell said.
He added, “These ponds will move the city closer to reaching future DNR water quality requirements and remain in compliance with the city’s Wisconsin Pollution Discharge Elimination stormwater permit.”
The city has a history of receiving urban nonpoint source grants from DNR.
In 2012, grant dollars were applied to a detention basin project, along Whitewater Creek from Main Street to Starin Road. A year later, the city received funding for a detention basin construction project at Meadowsweet Park and the Clay Street Nature Preserve.
Most recently, grant funds were applied to a detention basin construction project in 2014 on Ann Street.
