News & EventsYou can also keep up with neighborhood news and events on the Spring Harbor Neighborhood Association Facebook page. The most recent edition of the neighborhood
newsletter (also delivered door to door). 
Spring Harbor Ice Incident: Someone fell through icePosted Jan 29, 2023
In recent days a neighbor and her dog were walking on Lake Mendota and fell through the ice at the pressure crack at the mouth of Spring Harbor where it meets the lake. Luckily a fisherman nearby heard a cry for help and rescued the woman. The dog was able to get out of the water on its own. Both are doing okay. The mouth of the harbor is a known area of unstable ice. And there are many areas around the lake where the ice is unsafe. Snow cover and recent cold temperatures may make you think the ice is safe to walk on—use caution at all times in all areas. Here is some safety information to help you prepare to go out onto lake ice. https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/newsroom/release/64736 https://www.channel3000.com/news/local-news/dane-county-sheriff-s-office-offers-ice-safety-tips/article_a3de0633-d933-5291-95da-d9d16b3be671.html https://uwpd.wisc.edu/services/lake-rescue-safety/ Well 14 Out of Service; Chloride Mitigation Study in ProgressA Well #14 chloride mitigation study began on January 11, with the well being taken out of service. Water Utility's description of the latest study can be found at https://www.cityofmadison.com/water/projects/well-14-chloride-mitigation-project. This study is called the chloride study because, in addition to sodium, the chloride levels are encroaching on EPA's guidelines for drinking water.
From the City of Madison Water Supply Manager, Joe Demorett..
Project Overview The Water Utility is initiating a groundwater/borehole characterization study at Unit Well 14. This study is necessary in order to mitigate the elevated levels of sodium and chloride in the water from this well. Background Well 14 is a water supply well that was drilled and constructed in 1960. Located at 5130 University Avenue, it serves Madison’s West side neighborhoods including Spring Harbor, Old Middleton Greenway, Sunset Village, and Regent. Well 14 also serves the Village of Shorewood Hills and parts of the University of Wisconsin campus. The well is 715 feet deep and draws water from both the upper and lower sandstone aquifers that exist beneath Madison. Its far west location and high specific capacity characteristics (78 gpm per foot of drawdown) make it an important source of water in Madison Water Utility’s system. Over the last 5 years, it has supplied an average of 750 million gallons of water annually making it the Utility’s largest producer. In terms of water quality, Well 14 continues to show a dramatic rise in sodium and chloride levels. Over recent years, concentrations of both ions have steadily increased and it is estimated water pumped from the well may soon exceed EPA recommended guidelines for chloride. The level of sodium in Well 14 water already exceeds EPA recommended guidelines. Road salting applications likely contribute to the elevated sodium and chloride levels pumped at this well. Previous Study The well’s borehole was recently logged with a variety of geophysical tools. From this exercise, it was determined that the majority of water produced at this well was coming from several different depths/levels within the upper aquifer. There appears to be very little water originating from the lower aquifer. Water samples were subsequently taken at these and other depths/levels within the borehole to characterize the quality of the groundwater entering the borehole. Samples were collected under “non-pumping” conditions. Results indicated that the water entering from the upper aquifer is elevated in terms of NaCl, while the lower aquifer water is not. Current Study It was determined that additional study was needed to further characterize the quality of the water entering the borehole under “pumping” conditions. The results of this current study will be used to formulate an extension of the well’s casing which will alleviate the sodium and chloride levels in the water. SCS Engineers, a local environmental engineering company, has been retained to assist with the study. Water Well Solutions, a licensed well driller, has been selected to perform the downhole tasks necessary to complete this work. Total estimated cost is $220,000. It is hoped that this study will be complete in March of 2023 and the well put back into service by April 1st. The current study/work is being broken up into three different phases. During the first phase which will take several weeks, approximately 164 ft. of sediment which has accumulated at the bottom of the borehole will be removed and the sides will be cleaned off. The second phase will involve utilizing a packer to isolate certain depths which are contributing water and to sample at these depths to better determine the source of the sodium and chloride. The final phase will involve determining what adjustments should be made to where water is drawn from to maximize water quality objectives. Posted 1.22.23 Madison Mayoral Race Candidate ForumNear Westside Mayoral Candidate Forum
Monday, January 30th 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Sequoya Library Conference Room Or attend via Zoom at the link below (you can also ask your questions through the chat feature): Zoom Meeting Link: https://cuwaa.zoom.us/j/91242996181 Meeting ID: 912 4299 6181 Or Dial by your location +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) There is a three-way race for mayor and this is an opportunity to meet the candidates, hear their priorities, and question them on their positions on issues facing the city:
The Near Westside Mayoral Candidate Forum will be moderated by WPR Talk Show Host Emeritus Joy Cardin and is brought to you by the following neighborhood associations: Midvale Heights Community Association Sunset Village Community Association Regent Neighborhood Association Westmorland Neighborhood Association Summit Woods Neighborhood Association University Hill Farms Association Crawford Marlborough Nakoma Neighborhood Association Hope to see you there! Fall All Neighbor Meeting Highlights
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Save the Date! Be a part of the process to help shape the future of our neighborhoodThe City of Madison invites residents, community organizations, businesses, and other stakeholders to join in the public planning process for the West Area Plan. The City is hosting kick-off meetings for both areas, with in-person and virtual alternatives for attending. Staff will provide an overview of background information and gather input from community members about issues and opportunities in the respective planning areas.
West Area Plan Public Meetings
Residential Development Document
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SHNA Meetings
Board meetings are currently held virtually. If you are interested in participating, please contact the board president Aaron Crandall (springharborpresident@gmail.com) to find out when meetings are scheduled and how to participate, or if you have an item for the agenda.
The Spring Harbor Neighborhood Association (SHNA) boundaries encompass Old Middleton Road and the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad on the south, Lake Mendota on the north, Whitney Way (City of Madison boundary on the east), and Camelot Drive on the west. The Hickory Hollow Condominiums and the University Crossing Apartments are within these boundaries. [The green area on map above represents the general area.]
JOIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION ONLINE
The Spring Harbor Neighborhood Association (SHNA) Board has set up an easy way to become a member of the neighborhood association, or renew your membership, and pay dues. Use this link: https://spring-harbor-neighborhood.cheddarup.com
On the Cheddar-Up web site you will fill out a form similar to the membership form you've seen in the neighborhood newsletter. You can pay online or indicate that you will mail a check.
Also, let us know how you want to get involved in the many efforts and activities of the neighborhood association--we need you!
The Spring Harbor Neighborhood Association (SHNA) Board has set up an easy way to become a member of the neighborhood association, or renew your membership, and pay dues. Use this link: https://spring-harbor-neighborhood.cheddarup.com
On the Cheddar-Up web site you will fill out a form similar to the membership form you've seen in the neighborhood newsletter. You can pay online or indicate that you will mail a check.
Also, let us know how you want to get involved in the many efforts and activities of the neighborhood association--we need you!
GET INVOLVED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION!
Attending the Fall and Spring All-Neighborhood Meetings is a great way to get involved in the Spring Harbor Neighborhood Association (SHNA) and find out what’s happening in the neighborhood firsthand --and meet your neighbors who are active in the neighborhood! Anyone may attend the neighborhood meeting and you are encouraged to join SHNA. The annual dues are $10.00, which go to support the many activities of the neighborhood association, such as the 4th of July picnic and parade, the Halloween Party, Merrill Spring restoration, Spring Harbor Park invasive plant removal, publication of the neighborhood newsletter, and many other things that make this area a great place to live. See the last page of the newsletter for more information.
Attending the Fall and Spring All-Neighborhood Meetings is a great way to get involved in the Spring Harbor Neighborhood Association (SHNA) and find out what’s happening in the neighborhood firsthand --and meet your neighbors who are active in the neighborhood! Anyone may attend the neighborhood meeting and you are encouraged to join SHNA. The annual dues are $10.00, which go to support the many activities of the neighborhood association, such as the 4th of July picnic and parade, the Halloween Party, Merrill Spring restoration, Spring Harbor Park invasive plant removal, publication of the neighborhood newsletter, and many other things that make this area a great place to live. See the last page of the newsletter for more information.
Voting Information for Spring Harbor Neighborhood
https://www.cityofmadison.com/clerk/where-do-i-vote/
STAY INFORMED...
View the Madison West District Police newsletters
Check out Madison's annual report on water quality
Sign up for City e-mail lists
Review the City's recently adopted revised zoning code
3 LINKS to COVID-19 COMMUNITY INFORMATION
More useful links:
State Senator Kelda Roys' Web page
State Representative Sheila Stubbs' Web page
District 19 Alder Keith Furman's Blog
What Happens in Spring Harbor is What’s in Well 14….and what happens in Well 14 is BIGGER than Spring Harbor
Well 14 is at the corner of University Avenue and Flambeau Road in Indian Hills. The well pumps over 2 million gallons of drinking water a day to Madison’s westside neighborhoods of Spring Harbor, Glen Oak Hills, Hill Farms, Sunset Village, Regent, Dudgeon-Monroe, and Vilas. Well 14 also serves the Village of Shorewood Hills and parts of the UW campus.
Well 14 is contaminated with road salt. Those with high blood pressure or on sodium restricted diets are at risk because current levels exceed the recommended daily sodium intake. Water from the well reached critical chloride contamination levels in 2016. The taste of salt is noticeable now to some residents. Sodium and chloride concentrations in the wells have doubled since 2000. If nothing changes in the next 10 years, the salty taste will make it hard to drink and the well will need expensive reconstruction. Madison’s Water Utility has set aside $125,000 in 2018 to look at alternatives— everything from reconstructing the well to on-site desalination to abandoning the well entirely. Last summer a study of Well 14’s water quality problems identified some potential sources of salt, including the most likely source, the storm sewer outlet at Lake Mendota Drive. In order to examine this further, the Water Utility installed two monitoring wells in Spring Harbor Park in December 2017. One monitoring well is toward Lake Mendota Drive (North) and the other is location more toward University Avenue (South). The City
is monitoring sodium and chloride concentrations in the wells for 18 months.
The EPA recommended drinking water guideline is 250 mg/L for chloride and 60mg/L for sodium. This guideline is based on taste, not health effects. What we do in Spring Harbor matters to Well 14. More than half of our neighborhood is in what is called the “10-year capture zone”. This means that what we put on our roads, driveways, and parking lots likely ends up in Well 14 in less than 10 years. Contaminants in the stormwater outlet that flows into Spring Harbor might reach the well within 2 years. Salt doesn’t just affect our drinking water--concentrations are rising in Lake Mendota and nearby springs.
Spring Harbor retaining wall replacement and repair of the stormwater outfall area
Updates on the work being done on the Spring Harbor retaining wall and the stormwater discharge area can be found at this link: https://www.cityofmadison.com/engineering/projects/spring-harbor-outfall-repair