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Madison Common Council may spend millions on marsh

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by Courtney Johnson

Friday, January 19, 2007

The Madison Common Council is considering purchasing 258 acres of land in the Cherokee Marsh in an effort to slow development in the area.

If approved, the purchase is expected to cost between $3.4 and $4.5 million. The state stewardship fund and the Dane County Conservation Fund would pay 75 percent of the cost, and Madison’s Parkland Acquisition would cover the remainder.

“It’s the largest marsh in Dane County, and it’s right at the head of the Madison chain of lakes,” said Si Widstrand, parks development manager for the city of Madison Parks Department. “So it kind of buffers the effects of flooding by having a very big flood plain and also the ability to absorb some nutrients and buffer the nutrients coming into the lakes,”

The Cherokee Preservation Initiative would also reduce the number of new homes scheduled to be built in the area and create a Cherokee Special Area Plan that would handle any future plans for the area.

“The marsh itself has degraded over time for a number of reasons, and it’s just important we do everything we can and create a buffer,” said George Twigg, spokesperson for Mayor Dave Cieslewicz. “The Cherokee Marsh is basically the filtration system for the water coming into Lake Mendota and Lake Monona.”

Twigg added that this is one of the largest land purchases in Wisconsin in recent history.

But at a Madison Common Council meeting Jan. 16, several community members expressed their opposition to the purchase.

Susan Schmitz, who spoke at the meeting as a representative of Downtown Madison, Inc., said she is concerned about the proposal’s lack of a “sunset clause.” Such a clause, Schmitz said, would allow officials to assess whether the initiative is serving its intended purpose after several years have passed.

“The proposed ordinance has come a long way, but we still do not think it is where it should be,” Schmitz said. She added DMI agrees with the proposed ordinance’s stated purpose, which is to protect Madison’s distinctive neighborhoods by conserving and enhancing them.

Those who spoke in opposition at the meeting all asked that the proposal be sent back for more work before coming to a vote.

Widstrand said, however, the effects of the proposal on Madison lakes and the marsh would be difficult to measure.

“It’s hard to draw a line between preserving a few acres here and improving the quality of the lakes,” Widstrand said, adding that every bit of conservation helps the overall quality of the environment.

The proposal is sponsored by Cieslewicz and several alders, including Ald. Paul Skidmore, District 9, who is on the Parks Commission, and Ald. Judy Olson, District 6.

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