The public is invited to attend two upcoming environmental impact meetings for projects affecting the Lakeshore Nature Preserve. We hope you can join the project planners and provide input.
1.
Project: Lakeshore Nature Preserve Frautschi Center
Public meeting: Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) scoping – Wednesday May 8, 2024 from 5:30 – 7:00 PM – via Microsoft Teams
Meeting link: Join the meeting now (Meeting ID: 279 245 268 085) (Passcode: RxzJ7v)
Project website: http://www.ayresprojectinfo.com.
The proposed Outreach Center, spanning approximately 10,000 gross square feet, will be located within the Lakeshore Nature Preserve, outside the stone wall near Picnic Point and Lot 130 on the UW-Madison campus. Its primary objective is to create a dedicated space for experiential, hands-on learning while expanding the research, teaching, and outreach capabilities of the Preserve. This center will be housed in a sustainable facility that incorporates resilient green building design elements. The project also involves relocating a portion of University Bay Drive and shifting lot 130 to the north. The new road pavement will maintain a similar distance from the Class of 1918 Marsh as the existing parking lot. Additionally, existing bio-infiltration swales will be reconfigured to accommodate the building.
An initial requirement of the EIS is the scoping process, with the intent of identifying any potential impacts of the project on the physical, biological, social, historic, and economic environments at an early stage. Impacts that are identified during this process will be incorporated into a Draft EIS which will be made available to the public for a 45-day review period and circulated to appropriate agencies and interested parties. The Scoping Letter is being made available to the public and to appropriate agencies for a 15-day review period, which begins April 24, 2024.
2.
Project: Lakeshore Path Limnology Bypass
Public meeting: Draft Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) – Thursday, May 16, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. – via Microsoft Teams
Meeting link: Join the meeting now
Project website: https://uwlakeshorelimnologypatheia.com/
The proposed project is designed to improve the Howard Temin Lakeshore Path route around the Hasler Laboratory of Limnology by creating a dedicated bicycle path around the south side of the building. The area on the south side of the Hasler Laboratory of Limnology will be widened by construction of a retaining wall to support the adjacent hillside. The parking lot adjacent to the Hasler Laboratory of Limnology (Lot 8) will be reworked as part of this project. The target budget of the project is $1,765,200. The target construction period is anticipated to commence in September 2024 and reach substantial completion in May 2025.
The purpose of the Draft EIA is to identify the potential impacts of the project on the physical, biological, social, and economic environments.