Committee approves DOT memorandum on I-41 stormwater pond; staff say city retains DNR permit credit

The Appleton City Municipal Services Committee on Feb. 23, 2026 approved a memorandum of agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation covering construction and maintenance of a stormwater detention pond (identified in staff materials as Pond A) as part of I-41 interchange improvements.

Director Tu explained that DOT’s Pond A will discharge into a city-owned pond (referred to as the Northeast Business Pond, NEBPP). City staff and DOT staff identified some small reductions in pollutant removal attributable to the DOT improvements; the memorandum allows the city to take partial credit for Pond A’s pollutant removal so that the net pollutant-removal credit the city may claim under its DNR permit does not change. Director Tu said DOT will own and operate Pond A and that general maintenance will be DOT’s responsibility. When dredging is required, costs will be prorated based on each party’s share of pollutant-removal credit.

Committee members asked whether dredging schedules could be coordinated; Director Tu said staff would look for opportunities to align mobilization but cautioned the DOT pond might reach dredging readiness earlier than the deeper city-owned pond. A member also asked whether similar agreements exist along the corridor; Director Tu said this case is fairly unique but that staff have used consultants in other cases to verify no adverse post-project impacts.

The committee moved to approve the memorandum and carried the motion by voice vote, 3–0.

The memorandum and the DNR-permit-crediting arrangement are expected to govern ownership, maintenance responsibility and the methodology for allocating credit and prorating dredging costs; the transcript did not include contract dates or a detailed dredging timetable.