Locator for Thermally Sensitive Areas
in Dane County, Wisconsin

What are Thermally Sensitive Areas? Thermally Sensitive Areas are areas within a watershed that drain to an existing or proposed Cold Water Community or Class I, II, or III Trout Stream, as designated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. These streams are capable of supporting cold water fish and other aquatic life.

Where are the Dane County Thermally Sensitive Areas? The map on the right shows the Dane County Thermally Sensitive Areas in yellow.

Dane County Thermally Sensitive Areas

Dane County Thermally Sensitive Areas Map

More Detailed Map


    Note: If you would like to search by parcel number or township, range and section, but do not have this information, try using Access Dane. You can search for parcel information by address, recorded plat information, or certified survey number.

Why is it important to identify Thermally Sensitive Areas? The Dane County Erosion Control and Stormwater Ordinance requires thermal control practices for development projects in Thermally Sensitive Areas (s. 14.51(2)(f) of the Dane County Code of Ordinances, and corresponding sections of city and village ordinances). The purpose of thermal controls is to protect Cold Water Communities from periodic extreme temperature increases associated with development.

How were the Thermally Sensitive Areas identified? The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources South Central Region provided a List of Cold Water Communities to the Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission in a letter dated October 9, 2000. The University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Dane County Land Conservation Department delineated the areas draining to these Cold Water Communities as Thermally Sensitive Areas.

For more information on Erosion Control and Stormwater Management, see the Land Conservation Department's Data & Technology page or the Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission's Erosion Control and Stormwater Management page.


LCD Home

Dane County Home