March-July 2021
Updates were made to the Tiedeman Pond pumping system to help better maintain the proper pond water levels.
June 2020
Common Council amended the Capital Projects Budget to include Tiedeman-Stricker and Graber Pond Projects to begin construction of the improvements in the fall of 2020.
Even though the Tiedeman pond level is closer to the maximum allowable level, the water table around the pond is still very high. Even with small rains, water continues to flow over the walking paths. City crews are unable to mow the areas surrounding the the park due to standing water and saturated ground levels. Additional trees around the park and pond are continuing to die due to the effects of the flood.
May 2020
Middleton Water Resources Management Commission has been working on design improvements to increase the drawdown capacity of Stricker, Tiedeman, and Graber ponds. Proposed designs will help maintain water elevations and provide improve the ability to lower water levels during flooding events. Refer to the following for details on the enhancements to the Tiedemen pumping station.
April 2020
After a year and eight months from the initial flood, both of the pond levels to the maximum allowable levels.
- Tiedeman water level finally decreased to the maximum allowable level, 911 feet above sea level.
- Stricker water level finally decreased to the maximum allowable level, 923 feet above sea level.
April 2019
After 8 months and the temporary use of an extra pump on Gammon Road last fall, the pump system still has not been able to return the ponds to normal levels.
Native plantings, mature trees, nature paths, boardwalks, and open green space that residents previously enjoyed on a daily basis are either destroyed or unusable.
Community meeting is held to discuss flooding status and recovery efforts.
Click here for photos from April 2019
September 24 2018
After three weeks of pumping with the main pump and auxiliary pump the water levels were finally drawn down off of Gammon Rd. Tiedeman pond and Stricker pond still had very high water levels with initial estimates of six to eight weeks to restore the normal water elevation.
August 28 2018
Existing pump infrastructure is unable to effectively remove the excess water, and the Tiedeman water levels continue to cover Gammon Road. An auxiliary pump was installed on Gammon Road to pump water into neighboring storm sewer that eventually leads to Lake Mendota. The auxiliary pump was estimated to be able to remove an additional 900 gallons per minute to assist in lowing the water levels.
Click here for additional pump photos
August 20 2018
A severe rainstorm hit the Middleton and surrounding areas and caused significant flood damage to businesses, homes, streets, parks, trails, and our protected natural conservancies. In most cases the flood water receded as quickly as it arose allowing much of the community to recover from the immediate damage that occurred.
Unfortunately the Stricker and Tiedeman Pond system does not have a natural outlet for excess water to flow out of the ponds. The ponds currently rely on a valve to move water from Stricker to Tiedeman and a pump to move water from Tiedeman to Lake Mendota. The existing pumping system was no match for the amount of water draining from the neighboring watershed. The water level at Tiedeman pond rose over 8 feet.
The ponds are subject to conditions of WDNR Permit 3-SC-2001-13-6153LR dated Feb. 8, 2002 (attached), which includes the following requirements:
- Maintain the water level in Tiedeman Pond between 909.5 and 911.0.
- Maintain the water level in Stricker Pond between 920.5 and 923.0.
- No pumping is allowed from October 1 until “ice out” the following spring, to minimize impacts on reptiles and amphibians.
