Development of Tools to Address Groundwater in Comprehensive Planning

Legislation adopted in 1999(s. 66.0295) requires all communities that make land use decisions, to base those decisions on a comprehensive plan by January 1, 2010. The legislation outlines nine elements that must be included in each comprehensive plan. Aspects of groundwater quantity or quality may be a factor in all nine elements. A number of publications have been completed by state and university groups that provide a thorough discussion of groundwater as part of the comprehensive planning process. Absent from these publications are real-life examples illustrating how local governments have planned for groundwater protection in their community, and even more importantly, how these communities have implemented their plans. Such examples would greatly assist planners and citizens in effectively addressing groundwater in comprehensive plans. This project will: Establish a network of project contributors at all levels of private and public life to advise this project and future groundwater planning projects. Review, summarize, and analyze the groundwater components of comprehensive plans that have been filed with the Wisconsin Department of Administration. Develop five case studies highlighting rural Wisconsin communities that have implemented groundwater protection measures. Identify the key challenges, and particularly the “showstoppers”, communities are facing as they attempt to develop and implement the groundwater component of comprehensive plans.