Waukesha diversion bid long planned water export

In light of last night's hearing and the discussion about the expanded water delivery area beyond Waukesha's borders to other municipalities which Waukesha intends to route some of its projected diversion, I am reposting a June, 2009 blog item which includes a link to correspondence between SEWRPC - - the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission - - and Waukesha about creating an expanded service territory map which Waukesha folded into its application for Great Lakes water.

I will also repost the map, though I am unable to copy it from the SEWRPC file and am using it as I have done previously as it appeared in a business newspaper, The Daily Reporter.

Note that land in orange - - particularly at the edges of the expanded service territory - - has potential for development, while green indicates land that SEWRPC classified as environmental corridor  - - suggesting development limitation or prohibition- -  but SEWRPC, an agency generally advisory in nature does not have the legal authority to bar development on environmental corridor acreage. Those decisions are in the hands of local governments.

TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2009

Lake Michigan Water Could Flow Outside Waukesha City Boundaries; Some Questions

Though Waukesha says it is scaling back the amount of Lake Michigan water it seeks to divert, and is saving water through conservation, its diversion application will include this report and map showing where outside its current water delivery service territory it could send some of the water.

The report and map are required elements of a diversion application under the Great Lakes Compact, and were developed by the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission.

Note that some of that acreage is designated by the regional planning commission as environmentally sensitive.

Portions of the service territory expansion are undeveloped, and/or are outside the city's municipal boundaries, too.

Though Waukesha contends it is not a center of sprawl, and has urban, built infrastructure, it's also apparent that Waukesha is looking to expand at its edges, too. 

So could Waukesha address these questions:

What portion of the Lake Michigan water it will apply for is intended for the expanded service delivery territory?

What would be that water's impact on development, transit needs and housing needs and patterns there?

And for the City of Milwaukee - - these questions:

It has a water valuation study now out to bid designed to help Milwaukee better deal with suburbs seeking diverted water service; will negotiations with Waukesha target sharing in developmental gains created in the open areas where Waukesha could send some of its diverted water?

And is that the way to incorporate into the negotiations the two cities' mutual housing, transit and developmental opportunities?

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The map, as sourced and described above:

Waukesha ties water deal to developments

By: Joe Yovino  February 1, 2010 2:55 pm