City of Middleton, Wisconsin

Calling it “an outstanding water quality and educational project” Mark R. Baker, regional representative of CONTECH Stormwater Solutions Inc. will present a check for $12,000.00 to Mike Davis, Administrator for the City of Middleton’s Water Quality project. The successful grant application was ranked first among more than 30 applications that were submitted from across the US to CONTECH Stormwater Solutions for their annual water quality grant. The project will improve the water quality going into Lake Mendota and the Rock River Basin from Middleton’s Tiedeman and Stricker kettle ponds. 

Mr. Baker will present the check during Earth Week, on Tuesday, April 25 th, 10:45AM, at Middleton’s Elm Lawn Grade School. 

Penni Klein, Middleton Public Lands Manager, acknowledged Ellen Rulseh of Earth & Water Works, LLC and the Rock River Coalition for her role in initiating and following through on the winning grant. “You made it happen,” Klein said. Rulseh noted that Klein’s “can do” attitude, backed up by excellent support from the City of Middleton’s Mayor, Administrator and Land Conservation Committee members, with their history of stormwater mitigation projects, were essential in the application’s success. And, thanks to the Rock River Coalition’s “Rain Garden in Every Community” project partnership, which Rulseh also brought in, Elm Lawn Grade School teacher, Lynn Karle and her fourth grade students have begun to incorporate an understanding of the problems of stormwater runoff, and how native plants, rain gardens and buffers can help into classroom curriculum. The fourth graders will assist with planting and maintenance at the site of the rain gardens.

On Tuesday morning, prior to the check presentation, Earth & Water Works, LLC’s Susan Priebe will present a design workshop, during which the students will familiarize themselves with the different types, sun or shade and soil requirements of native plants. “Flash cards” depicting native plants and grasses, and some samples have been provided by Agrecol.

The award-winning application includes a community outreach component in which the school children will help host a “picnic in the park” to present information about the project to their parents and community members. Karle’s students will continue to study and help maintain the site in years two and three of the program as they progress into the fifth and sixth grade. The majority of the site preparation and labor will be provided on an “in kind” basis by the City of Middleton.