The Madison Pheasant Branch Sub-Watershed and Its Challenges
Introduction
I live in the sub-watershed of Madison Wisconsin called the Pheasant Branch watershed. Pheasant Branch is a beautiful conservancy in which I would frequently walk and jog observing the vast multitude of native species thriving in such a beautiful wetland environment.
https://pheasantbranch.org/watershed/#:~:text=The%20main%20threats%20to%20the,agricultural%20runoff%20and%20urban%20development.
Despite its beautiful appearance and incredible ecological diversity, Pheasant Branch faces some very pertinent threats that jeopardize the safety and continuity of the beautiful watershed and its downstream lakes.
Non-Point Source Pollution
As discussed in class and observed in our college environment, Lake Mendota has been facing serious issues surrounding algal blooms of cyanobacteria. Pheasant Branch is currently one of those contributors in its agricultural, urban, and rural sources of nutrient runoff that travel to the beautiful lake. Currently, control of this situation is handled through "adaptive management", where city officials, farmers, and business owners work together to provide support and mitigation of problematic nutrient runoff into the pheasant branch watershed adding to algal ailments.
https://pheasantbranch.org/watershed/#:~:text=The%20main%20threats%20to%20the,agricultural%20runoff%20and%20urban%20development.
Stormwater Flooding
In addition to nutrient runoff, Stormwater runoff that floods through the watershed causes devastating biological and physical destruction due to extremely high flow river conditions. Currently mitigation attempts such as watershed studies and stormwater drainage systems are underway to prevent future comprehensive flooding events.
https://pheasantbranch.org/news/update-storm-damage-trail-condition/
Hello John!
ReplyDeleteI’ve hiked around the Pheasant Branch Conservancy a few times to this was pretty fascinating to learn about. It’s so sad to hear about the threats that non point source pollution has on watershed systems all over the United States. I wonder if this is a global phenomenon, I’m sure it is. However, in regards to the storm water flooding, at least its nice to hear that the city is aiming to find some solution to avoiding the flooding that causes mass pollution. Go Madison!