Evaluating the inventory of trees in your community can help you develop a strong cost assessment for maintenance to improve tree health and avoid liabilities from broken branches. Adding dashboards to your community’s mapping arsenal makes visualizing trends in GIS data easier than ever before. R/M recently teamed up with Wachtel Tree Science to complete a tree inventory in the Village of Huntley, Illinois. Learn how implementing a GIS dashboard can make digesting your tree data easier.
Managing rain events and the high flows that come with spring can be a daunting task for municipalities. R/M prioritizes a streamlined approach to managing infiltration and inflow to avoid flooding on private properties; identify flow, investigate where it is coming from, and put a plan into action for removing the I/I source. Learn how planning for the rainy season can help prevent backups in residents’ basements
Your community can get ahead of the brutal Wisconsin freeze-thaw cycle and its impact on your roadways by utilizing the proactive approach steps R/M experts implement. Learn how to use this approach and your PASER rating data to minimize the life cycle cost for your roadways and provide the quality of roadways that your community desires.
Natural Channel Design was introduced as an alternative to rock-lined channels and utilizes natural material (rock and woody material) in the channel to achieve reductions in TSS, phosphorous, and sediment to downstream tributaries.
Two common forms of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are now scheduled to become designated as “hazardous substances” and be subject to the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability (CERCLA) Act in the fall of 2023. Learn more about the potential implications of these changes.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) is providing a substantial increase in funding for Lead Service Line (LSL) Projects. Under the updated program, LSL Projects will now be managed through the WDNR Safe Drinking Water Loan Program (SDWLP). The updated scoring criteria now places an emphasis on disadvantaged municipalities or census tracts. Here is some key information to prepare you for getting your LSL funding.
On December 30, 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Army Corps of Engineers announced the final “Revised Definition of ‘Waters of the United States’” rule. This new rule will be effective on March 20, 2023. The following is an overview summary of similarities, changes, and how to move forward.
The Wisconsin DNR Urban Nonpoint Source & Storm Water Management (UNPS&SW) Planning Grant Program applications are due April 17, 2023.
By now you probably know there’s a looming deadline to submit your Lead & Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) materials inventory to the WDNR by October 16, 2024. And you probably have most of the data … somewhere. But have you stopped to think about your approach to this tall order?
Through the utilization of StoryMaps, municipalities can share and clearly outline project phases and outcomes to keep their residents up to date. StoryMaps integrate immersive narrative media such as photos, videos, audio, interactive timelines, and map tours to give a comprehensive and digestible view of current, ongoing, and complete projects.
Water Utilities must apply to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) in order to receive a Certificate of Authority (approval) for most water-related construction projects. PSC § 184.03 provides details on the types of construction projects that would require PSCW construction authorization.
Record-setting employee turnover. Sky-high bids for construction projects. Staggering price increases for supplies such as chemicals for water treatment. The signs of inflation are everywhere and it is devouring the capacity for municipalities to accomplish what they need to. Learn how your municipality can fight back!
Most municipalities and older developments own wet retention ponds that were built in the early 2000’s. It may be time to evaluate how much sediment has accumulated in those ponds and whether or not it is time to dredge them to remove the accumulated sediment. Learn how to find out if it’s time to dredge your storm water pond.
Municipalities are always looking for ways to improve how they share and communicate with their residents. With the emergence of ArcGIS Hub sites, R/M has helped several communities do just that. Common inquiries by residents about geographical information such as garbage collection, zoning codes, and snowplow routes can be answered through information accessed in their municipality’s Hub site.
Water rate cases now allow utilities to include projects that will be completed at any point in the year after the test year. Before this change, utilities could include costs only for projects that would be completed in the first half of the year following the test year. This change expands how useful conventional rate cases are for utilities, especially with many utilities experiencing project delays due to supply chain or labor issues.
Stream restoration is a technique that stabilizes channels in the current environment while working to accomplish common goals like reducing erosion of the channel beds and banks, improving water quality, and improving in-stream habitats. Learn what to look for, funding sources, and how your community can fund from a stream restoration.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) administrative rule process for two common forms of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has ended, resulting in new standards for drinking water and surface water. Learn about the new rules and procedures to prepare your community.
Are you considering filing an electric rate case with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW)? We have outlined the steps to both the municipal electric conventional rate case process as well as the processing of the submitted application.
If train horns are keeping your residents up at night, it might be time to establish a Railroad Quiet Zone in your community. Learn how a Quiet Zone can help improve your residents’ quality of life by reducing the noise pollution caused by train horns without posing a risk to public safety.
Hybrid and electric vehicle (EV) sales in the U.S. nearly doubled from 2020 to 2021. It’s safe to say that EVs are here to stay, and as their presence in your community increases, so will the demand for reliable charging infrastructure. Learn how local communities are preparing for EV growth and how the State of Wisconsin plans to expand EV infrastructure using unprecedented federal funding.
