Identified problem: Eau Claire County government buildings, specifically the Courthouse and Jail, experience elevated energy consumption, making up ~91% of Eau Claire County government electricity usage. The goals included providing further recommendations to improve energy efficiency and reduce energyconsumption and carbon emissions, particularly for the county courthouse and jail, and investigating renewable energy projects/options to […]
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Wausau is a city located in central Wisconsin, straddling the Wisconsin River. Home to around 39,575 residents, Wausau is an ever-growing city that welcomes incoming refugees through ECDC. The Ethiopian Community Development Council, ECDC, is a multicultural, community-based organization committed to empowering immigrants and refugees and helping them resettle in new communities. The organization’s current […]
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The study focused on three county facilities 1) the courthouse built in 1973 and later expanded in 2012, 2) the jail which was relocated to a new building following the expansion, and 3) a smaller maintenance building built in 1975. These facilities have been supported by energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives, including participation in […]
Read More… from Conducting an energy audit of three Eau Claire County facilities
Students from the Fall 2023 cohort of the Forest and Wildlife Ecology 599 Research Capstone were tasked with addressing two challenges: 1. What is causing the harmful algal blooms? Specifically, where are the nutrients coming in from?2. How can we communicate to the public about the issue and how they can help? To support Eau […]
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A group of graduate students from the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison worked collaboratively with representatives of the Eau Claire River Watershed Coalition (ECRWC) to create a conservation action plan for Lake Altoona. The ECRWC created a 9-key element plan in 2015-2017 and meets monthly to update members on the […]
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This report addresses the issue of sediment accumulation in Eau Claire River lake impoundments and assesses the benefits and costs of four different options regarding its removal, along with additional sub-options. The purpose of this planning effort is to provide a reference framework for Eau Claire County to use when estimating the outcomes of each […]
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The project is located East of Lake Altoona in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. This project consists of stabilizing five miles of river bank along the Eau Claire River. The sites targeted displayed relatively high rates of erosion and regression per year. Construction includes site work which requires erosion control measures, earthwork, and a combination of […]
Read More… from Developing strategies for riverbank stabilization along the Eau Claire River
This report lays out a strategic roadmap to tackle Eau Claire County’s fleet management challenges. Our main objectives focus on improving cost-effectiveness, right-sizing the fleet, reducing rotation times, increasing overall utilization, and fostering collaboration across departments for more efficient operations. Among the various strategies considered, the report zeroes in on two key approaches. First, optimizing […]
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The Shorewood Police Department wanted to know if electrifying the police would be a sound fiscal decision. A master’s student conducted simulations and a cost-benefit analysis and ultimately recommended that the village not electrify the fleet at this time. UniverCity Contact Info: UniverCityAlliance@wisc.edu […]
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Journalism students proposed a suite of new communications materials to provide tools to Shorewood that can help the village build community pride, distinguish it from surrounding localities, and communicate with current residents. UniverCity Contact Info: UniverCityAlliance@wisc.edu […]
Read More… from Improving outreach communication to grow community engagement in the Village of Shorewood