Journal of Science Policy & Governance | Volume 17, Issue 02 | October 12, 2020

Honorable Mention
​
Policy Memo: Green Infrastructure Incentives to Mitigate Flooding in Madison, WI

Sarah Alexander (1), Laura Borth (2), Jennifer Bratburd (3), Marie Fiori (4)
  1. University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Madison, WI
  2. University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Madison, WI
  3. University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Bacteriology, Madison, WI
  4. University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Chemistry, Madison, WI
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https://doi.org/10.38126/JSPG170201
Keywords: Wisconsin; green infrastructure; flooding; urban development 
Executive Summary: Extreme flooding events are increasingly common due to climate change and the City of Madison, Wisconsin is uniquely at risk. The City can mitigate further flood damage by encouraging development of green infrastructure. We recommend the City incentivize green infrastructure by creating a small grants program for residential green infrastructure projects, modeled after a successful program in Milwaukee and funded by pairing federal grants with an increase in the water rate structure. The grant program could be supplemented by altering the City’s stormwater fees to shift cost to residents generating the most runoff and by a volunteer program that would engage community members.

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References

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  3. Cieslewicz, Dave. 2018. “Just reducing lake levels won’t prevent flooding. We need to do more.” Isthmus, November 29. https://isthmus.com/news/cover-story/reducing-madison-lake-levels-will-not-prevent-flooding/
  4. City of Madison. n.d. “Racial Equity & Social Justice Initiative”, Civil Rights. Accessed April 1, 2020. https://www.cityofmadison.com/civil-rights/programs/racial-equity-social-justice-initiative
  5. City of Madison. Common Council. 2012. CHAPTER 37 - THE PUBLIC STORMWATER SYSTEM INCLUDING EROSION CONTROL 2012. CODE OF ORDINANCES CITY OF MADISON VOLUME IV CHAPTERS 32-45 https://library.municode.com/wi/madison/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COORMAWIVOIVCH32--45_CH37THPUSTSYINERCO
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Sarah Alexander is a Ph.D. candidate in the Water Systems and Society Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with a minor in Life Sciences Communication. She holds a M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from UW-Madison and a B.A. in Geology from Carleton College. Sarah pursues interdisciplinary research to develop, communicate and integrate water resources management strategies for improved resilience of communities vulnerable to climate variability. Sarah is the policy engagement chair for the Catalysts for Science Policy. She is passionate about increasing scientific literacy and fostering science-based policy to address critical societal challenges.
 
Laura Borth is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at University of Wisconsin-Madison, with a Life Sciences Communication minor. She holds a Registered Dietitian credential and a B.S. in Dietetics and German from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. She studies how high fat diets like the ketogenic and Atkins diet can treat Fragile X Syndrome, a genetic disease. Laura is an active member and former operations director of Catalysts for Science Policy. She is passionate about communicating nutrition and science to the public and working with lawmakers and nonprofits to advance effective science-based policy.
 
Jennifer Bratburd is currently a Missouri Science & Technology Policy Fellow. She holds a Ph.D. in the Microbiology Doctoral Training Program at University of Wisconsin-Madison and a B.S. in Microbiology from University of California, Berkeley. She studies how symbiotic bacteria protect their hosts from infectious disease. Jennifer is the former policy engagement chair for Catalysts for Science Policy and environmental policy intern for Clean Wisconsin.
 
Marie Fiori is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She holds a B.A. in Chemistry from Kalamazoo College. Marie studies organic glasses produced by vapor-deposition, similar to those used in OLED devices. She is one of the Co-Presidents of Catalysts for Science Policy. As a member of the National Science Policy Network’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, she helps to plan virtual panels to amplify Black and Brown voices and to advocate for equitable science policy.
 
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the members of Catalysts for Science Policy (CaSP), a graduate and postdoc led science policy group, at University of Wisconsin for their edits during the development of the memo and editor Ben Isaacoff for his feedback during the revision.
DISCLAIMER: The findings and conclusions published herein are solely attributed to the author and not necessarily endorsed or adopted by the Journal of Science Policy and Governance. Articles are distributed in compliance with copyright and trademark agreements.

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