Buchanan, WI
Home MenuStormwater Management
Town of Buchanan Stormwater Utility District
The Town of Buchanan Stormwater Utility was established by the Town Board of Buchanan on November 13, 2018. (Town of Buchanan Municipal Code Chapter 504, Article III) The Stormwater Utility was created in order to comply with rules implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Clean Water Act. The Town of Buchanan has applied and been granted the NR216 WPDES Storm Water Permit. This permit regulates the discharges from the Town of Buchanan to the local watersheds, such as Garners, Plum and Kankapot Creek, and the Fox River, from the Town's storm sewer system that may consist of runoff from rain events or snow melt and fluids from spills or illicit connections. The permit requirements are intended to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the waters of the state through management and treatment of urban stormwater runoff. As part of this effort, the Town has to establish a stormwater management program.
Goals of the Stormwater Utility
- Improve water flow
- Decrease soil erosion, i.e., stream restoration
- Encourage runoff's infiltration into the ground
- Reduce the amount of stormwater that reaches rivers, lakes and streams
- Keep pollutants from infiltrating the ground of washing away
- Provide resources and education to the public. Resource and Education List.
Responsibilities of the Stormwater Utility
- Repair and maintain the Town's stormwater system
- Comply with Federal and State regulatory standards
- Improve stormwater runoff quality
- Protect the bodies of water receiving the Town's stormwater runoff
Facilities of the Stormwater Utility
Detention Ponds
Detention Ponds improve storm water quality through physical and biological processes. As storm water flows through the detention pond, sediment particles settle-out and become trapped within the permanent pool of water. Wetland vegetation and microorganisms provide additional pollutant removal. Common storm water pollutants include sediment, nutrients, heavy metals, bacteria, chlorides, oil and grease, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds. The primary sources of these pollutants include construction sites, agriculture runoff, fertilizers, pesticides, soil erosion, pet and wildlife waste, road salt, automobiles (leaks, exhaust and tire wear) and home heating.
Routine maintenance is to include removal of debris and litter, inspection of outlet structures and embankments, landscaping maintenance and muskrat removal. Less frequent maintenance is to include sediment removal within the permanent pool of water. The frequency of sediment removal depends on the adequacy of construction site erosion controls, agriculture conservation practices, and stream buffer maintenance.
Many of these Detention Ponds are planted with prairie grasses, wild flowers, wetland plants and trees to enhance wildlife habitat and discourage Canadian Geese from taking residence within the detention pond.
Native Prairie & Aquatic Plant Values and Services
- Speedway Heights Pond: This pond is located in the Speedway Heights subdivision just west of the Wisconsin International Raceway. Pond construction was completed in the summer of 2010. The Town was successful in securing two grants for this project.
- Main Street Pond: This pond was completed by the Garners Creek Storm Water Utility in 2009. It is located south of Emons road and just east of Main Street. The pond includes native prairie plantings and also includes an unpaved trail.
- Springfield Pond: The Springfield Pond was constructed by the Garners Creek Storm Water Utility. The pond is located west of Eisenhower Drive at Creekview Lane and will serve as a large regional pond. This pond was completed in coordination with the Buchanan Cottages development.
- Regal Pond: Regal Pond is located behind the Marcus Theatres and converted an existing dry detention area to a wet pond in 2009.
- Heartland Pond: The Pond was constructed in 2006 and is located within the west central portion of the Garners Creek Watershed. Specifically, the Heartland Pond is located east of STH ‘441’, west of Eisenhower Drive, south of CTH ‘CE’ and north of Garners Creek within the Town of Buchanan. Approximately 89 acres drain into the Heartland Pond, including the commercial development including Lowes and Festival Foods. Stormwater runoff is carried to the pond by storm sewers. The purpose of the Heartland Pond is to reduce peak flow rates, improve water quality and provide flood control.
- County Road N Pond: The Pond was constructed near the end of 2021 in combination with the Yard Waste Transfer Site and is located north of KK intersection, Ruby and Barney Court at N124 & N130 County Road N.
Please note that ponds are not to be used for swimming or fishing and domestic animals are not allowed to enter the water.
Stormwater Utility Fee Structure
The Town chose to create a Stormwater Utility as a means to equitably charge for the planning, financing and completion of ongoing activities and improvements to reduce flooding, improve stream bank erosion and enhance water quality in the community watersheds. Since stormwater utilities are funded by user fees, all properties within the service area, including tax-exempt and non-profits, are charged based on the runoff each property produces. This spreads the burden of paying for these costs to all users rather than being paid for entirely by the taxpayers of Buchanan.
Every property owner within the Town will be charged a fee on all developed property that has impervious surfaces. Impervious area, or impervious surface, is defined as a surface that has been compacted or covered with a layer of material so that it is highly resistant to infiltration by rainwater. Several examples of impervious surfaces include roofs, sidewalks, parking lots, compacted gravel or dirt surfaces, and other similar surfaces.
Stormwater charges for all properties are based on the Equivalent Runoff Units (ERU) for the property. The average square footage of impervious area of the ERU is established to be equivalent to 3,623 square feet. One ERU is $96 per year. The charges for different types of properties is as follows:
- Residential
- Single Family or Mobile Home (R1) - 1 ERU
- Duplex (R2) - 0.6 ERU's per dwelling unit
- Multi-Family & Condominium (R3) - 0.4 ERU's per dwelling unit
- Non-Residential
- Subdivision (NR1) - 0.5 ERU's per lot
- (NR2) - (square footage imperviousness/3,623 square feet)²
Stormwater Utility Application
This application should be filled out and sent in to the Town of Buchanan Utility Manager for any project that is changing the square footage or footprint for impervious surfaces on a property in the Town of Buchanan. This form assists Town staff in keeping up-to-date records for the purpose of assigning stormwater fees to properties. An application fee of $ is required.
This application should be filled out and sent in to the Town of Buchanan Utility Manager for any project that is served by privately owned and maintained on-site stormwater management facilities. Your property may be eligible for a credit if it meets the Town of Buchanan Stormwater Utility District Credit Policy. An application fee of $75 is required.
This application should be filled out and sent in to the Town of Buchanan Utility Manager for an channel change, encroachment, filling, grading, excavating or construction of any structure within 75 feet of a stream bank of Garners, Kankapot or Plum Creek, or the Fox River.
Applications can be picked up at Town Hall, N178 County Road N, Appleton, WI 54915.
Billing
All property owners will receive a stormwater utility charge once a year with their property tax statement. Fees will be evaluated annually and may be increased or decreased based on the Utility cost of operations and capital projects.
Stormwater Utility Budget
For questions please contact Dennis Jandrey, Engineering Technician, dennisj@townofbuchanan.wi.gov or 920-734-8599.