Forestry grants play a crucial role in helping municipalities fund the development and maintenance of community forestry programs. This includes activities such as tree inventories, plantings, pruning, invasive species control, and other sustainable practices. Additionally, leveraging GIS to maintain accurate tree data keeps tree inventories and forestry management plans accurate and efficient. By combining these two tools, municipalities can effectively maintain the health and resilience of their forest ecosystems.
Securing funds for infrastructure projects can be a challenge for municipalities. The good news? There's a wealth of grant programs available to support a wide range of projects. Whether you're looking to upgrade storm drains, install solar panels, or restore your local stream, there's likely a grant program out there that aligns with your goals. Follow these steps to find the best grant to fit your project!
Unprecedented federal and state funding has led to a surge of municipal right-of-way permit requests from private utility companies looking to install community-wide fiber and rural broadband network infrastructure. However, projects of this magnitude place considerable demand on municipal staff and community resources. We’ve compiled a checklist of duties and best practices to prepare your community and safeguard your existing infrastructure.
Installing filters for phosphorus removal has proven to be an effective way to meet the Water Quality-Based Effluent Limits (WQELS) for effluent total phosphorus. Consideration should be given to identify potential strategies to fit filters in an existing hydraulic profile. Learn more about best practices when considering the addition of pumping equipment.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) required Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) annual report is coming due on March 31, 2024. Compiling the list of various MS4 compliance items performed throughout 2023 can be a challenge. We’ve created a summary of what to expect on this year’s report.
A new option to fund replacing private lead service lines (LSLs) has just been introduced. This option allows municipalities to create a new program utility that is completely separate from their water utilities. This new utility would loan money to property owners to fund replacing their LSLs.
The defining jurisdictional boundary of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) has been in contention since the Clean Water Act of 1972. In August of 2023, the jurisdictional boundary of the Waters of the United States were appended to meet the Sackett v. EPA Supreme Court decision. Learn what this ruling means for the future of your projects.
From data management, to hubsites, to ArcGIS, our GIS experts do it all! Get to know our GIS team in celebration of National GIS Day on November 15, 2023.
Before a public utility can change water rates and begin billing those rates, the utility must receive approval from the PSC. For water rate cases, utilities have the option to file either a Conventional Rate Case (CRC) or a Simplified Rate Case (SRC). A CRC is recommended if your utility is making more substantial changes to rates. Learn how we can help you process your next municipal conventional water rate case with the PSC.
Employee-owned civil engineering firm, Ruekert & Mielke, Inc. (R/M), is excited to announce the addition of Cory Horton, PE, CFM, CPESC, EnvSP as a Client Team Leader on their Civil Engineering Team in Madison, Wisconsin.
Titan CEO and headline sponsor Wipfli LLP are pleased to announce Stan Sugden, P.E., CEO and President of Ruekert & Mielke, Inc., as a 2024 Wisconsin Titan 100. The Titan 100 program recognizes Wisconsin’s Top 100 CEO’s & C-level executives. They are the area’s most accomplished business leaders in their industry using criteria that includes demonstrating exceptional leadership, vision, and passion.
Sanitary sewer lift stations are critical to a municipality’s infrastructure to maintain a reliable collection system. There are multiple components for lift stations that should be reviewed and assessed intermittently to make sure a station operates efficiently and effectively with redundant and back-up systems. Learn about the electrical and control components that require intermittent assessments to run efficiently.
Tracking, analyzing, and accessing essential data for a community can be a difficult, tedious task for administrators. By implementing GIS systems, questions regarding cost to manage equipment, inventory, personnel, and assets themselves can easily be answered. Learn how the Villages of Huntley and Allouez achieve their goals by using different, customized GIS solutions to manage their assets.
The Honey Creek Headwaters and Stream Restoration Project is the revitalization of the City of Greenfield’s most commonly used park – Konkel Park. The project area included a 0.92-mile segment of Honey Creek that had been overgrown with buckthorn, filled with sediment, and had no natural inputs. Using natural channel design, the streams are now operating hydraulically like a normal stream.
If you have a water or wastewater project that needs funding, you should consider submitting an intent to apply before October 31 for the state’s revolving fund loan program. Eligible projects receive below-market interest rates. Learn more about these funding options and how to apply.
Illicit discharge detection and elimination (IDDE) is part of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) Permit, and annual IDDE outfall inspections are required for all regulated MS4 communities to ensure that stormwater discharges do not pollute our waters. Learn how R/M can support your community in collecting accurate inspection data!
On November 29, 2022 the Northern Long-Eared Bat was reclassified as endangered. Project proponents must receive concurrence from both the State and Federal Government prior to the start of the project. Learn what this means for your project and how to implement conservation measures.
Taking place annually on June 23, International Women in Engineering Day celebrates the achievements of women in engineering. R/M is extremely proud of all our women who make community possible with their work every day. Meet a few of our women in engineering at R/M!
Wastewater treatment facilities in Wisconsin fall under stringent requirements for how much phosphorus they can discharge to surface waters. These requirements improve water quality because lowering the amount of phosphorus reduces algal blooms. Learn how the clearinghouse simplifies the process for wastewater treatment facilities searching for farmers who can help them comply with their requirements.
Total nitrogen (TN) effluent limits for wastewater treatment facilities (WWTF) in Wisconsin are being considered by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). Some WWTFs that do not denitrify now may have to optimize their processes to get more denitrification. Learn what this means for your municipality and how you should start planning for it.
