Madison wetlands agency approves Wildcat Road pool and Shorelands Drive tree work with erosion and planting conditions

The Madison Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Agency on July 6 approved two projects in wetland review areas, adopting conditions intended to limit sedimentation and preserve a wooded canopy.

The agency approved application 26-1452 for work at Wildcat Road, which the applicant’s landscape designer, Dylan, described as removing a deck and hot tub and installing a pool, patios and new plantings within the 100-foot wetland review area. Dylan said the submitted plan shows a construction access and a designated laydown area; he proposed permeable patios and loading material directly into trucks to avoid a long-term stockpile. Agency staff and the consulting soil scientist, Michelle Ford, had recommended clearly delineated construction access, stormwater infiltration measures and maintenance of the existing wooded canopy.

As conditions of approval, the agency required: standard permitting conditions; that erosion-and-sediment (E&S) controls remain in place until lawn and transition areas reach 85% established growth (to be confirmed by the inland wetlands agent); and the placement of wetland boundary markers off the flagged area (roughly every 50 feet) to guide future landscaping and contractors. Lee Schumacher moved to approve the Wildcat Road application; Kayla Frydenberg seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Dylan thanked the agency for their time.

For application 26-1561 at Shorelands Drive, applicant representative Barb Baker described scheduled arborist work to remove dead and hazardous trees and a selective tree removal plan intended to increase sunlight for lawn areas. Barb flagged several patches of invasive knotweed, including a patch extending about 2 feet into the pond; she and members discussed control options (digging and multi-year monitoring, plastic solarization, and herbicide spraying). Agency members noted that herbicide use in the water would require a Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) permit and separate notification to inland wetlands.

The agency approved Shorelands Drive with standard conditions plus: (1) monitoring and on-site E&S controls with the agent’s confirmation before removing controls; (2) spot deployment of silt fencing or core logs in areas of concern rather than trenching the entire pond bank; (3) removal of biodegradable logs if they deteriorate or as confirmed by the inland wetlands agent; and (4) a requirement that the applicant use best management practices regarding fertilizer within the 100-foot review area to avoid nutrient loading. The motion was moved and seconded and passed without opposition.

Why it matters: both approvals place specific erosion-control and vegetation conditions on projects in regulated review areas to reduce runoff, protect wetland functions and ensure the agencies’ staff can confirm stabilization before removing temporary controls. The requirements aim to limit sediment and nutrient inputs that can accelerate pond algae and invasive species.

Votes at a glance: - Wildcat Road (application 26-1452): Approved as amended. Motion by Lee Schumacher; second by Kayla Frydenberg; outcome: approved (unanimous). Conditions include E&S controls until 85% established growth and wetland boundary markers. - Shorelands Drive (application 26-1561): Approved as amended. Moved and seconded; outcome: approved (unanimous). Conditions include E&S controls, spot erosion controls/core logs, and fertilizer BMPs.

The agency’s staff will post the final resolutions and confirm the plan notes and seed/plant mixes on the approved plan set.