Dane County – 鶹Ƶ Tue, 10 Mar 2026 16:37:55 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 /wp-content/uploads/2019/04/cropped-favicon_logo-32x32.jpg Dane County – 鶹Ƶ 32 32 Assessing policy intervention best practices for opioid harm reduction /projects/assessing-policy-intervention-best-practices-for-opioid-harm-reduction/ Tue, 10 Mar 2026 16:37:54 +0000 /?post_type=projects&p=21218 Read More... from Assessing policy intervention best practices for opioid harm reduction

]]> Dane County’s current opioid prevention efforts have two identified gaps: the absence of a coordinated navigation and linkage-to-care system and significant barriers to treatment access that people experiencing homelessness face. In this report, a policy analysis intern researched case studies, addressed how similar initiatives could be implemented in Dane County, and offered recommendations to strengthen continuation of care Dane County and to improve coordination and outreach efforts with the goal of providing stable and long-term recovery support for residents.

]]> Residential Health /projects/residential-health-3/ /projects/residential-health-3/#respond Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:37:54 +0000 https://portal.epicn.org/case-stories/residential-health/ Read More... from Residential Health

]]> The purpose of this report is to provide the Village of DeForest with information regarding future residential health property development in the Village of DeForest and Windsor.

]]> The “Keep Your Farmers Close” campaign aims to help CSA FairShare Coalition achieve the mission of connecting and supporting farmers and eaters by increasing the number of new shareholder sign ups and improving existing shareholder retention. Our research shows that the majority of Dane County community members are passionate about supporting Wisconsingrown food and local businesses, but may not be well-informed of how their current food shopping habits largely impact their local community. Our narrative attempts to evoke a sense of responsibility and empathy from our audience, by focusing on the ways in which choosing not to join CSA may actually take away from the relative success, health, and happiness of the community. The campaign directly speaks to why CSA is the better alternative to buying produce in larger or midsize food markets. Additionally, it encourages a stronger relationship between farmers and shareholders, by using social media in innovative ways in order to connect consumers to the people behind the produce. Our slogan, “Keep your friends close, your farmers closer,” seamlessly ties together all aspects of our campaign to communicate our foundational aspect of our campaign: things are just better when they are close to home.

UniverCity Year Contact Info
Gavin Luter
Managing Director
gavin@cows.org
608-261-1141

University Faculty Contact
Neil Stenhouse
Life Sciences Communication

stenhouse@wisc.edu

Local Government / Community Contact
Erika Jones

Executive Director, FairShare CSA Coalition
Erika@csacoalition.org

]]> /projects/public-information-campaigns-and-programs-2/feed/ 0 Health Care Improvement in Low Resource Settings /projects/health-care-improvement-in-low-resource-settings-2/ /projects/health-care-improvement-in-low-resource-settings-2/#respond Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:36:35 +0000 https://portal.epicn.org/case-stories/health-care-improvement-in-low-resource-settings/ Read More... from Health Care Improvement in Low Resource Settings

]]> Program goal: Provide psychosocial rehabilitation for adults or children with a mental health and/or substance abuse diagnosis * For Medicaid eligible individuals * Began in Dane County in 2015. Now serving 600+ clients * Intake new clients ~40/month * Open provider networks, services provided by 75 agencies * Recovery-oriented – support clients in meeting recovery goals intended to increase independence and decrease reliance on formal supports

Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner.

UniverCity Year Contact Info
Gavin Luter
Managing Director
gavin@cows.org
608-261-1141

University Faculty Contact
Lori DiPrete Brown
Population Health Sciences

dipretebrown@wisc.edu

Local Government / Community Contact
Lila Walsh

County Clerk Administrator
walsh.lila@countyofdane.com

]]> /projects/health-care-improvement-in-low-resource-settings-2/feed/ 0 Conservation Planning /projects/conservation-planning-2/ /projects/conservation-planning-2/#respond Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:36:05 +0000 https://portal.epicn.org/case-stories/conservation-planning/ Read More... from Conservation Planning

]]> In an effort to reduce the amount of phosphorus in the Rock River Basin throughout Dane
County, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) concerted an effort to select several target areas most vulnerable to
pollution from phosphorus and other contributing factors of ecosystem degradation. Due to the
concentration of agricultural land around the Door Creek valley, accounting for approximately
48% of the total land use, it was identified as one of the sub-watersheds with the highest
agricultural phosphorus contributions to the Yahara River Watershed (Door Creek Watershed
Management Action Plan, 2016). However, agricultural contamination was only one factor
threatening the health of this ecosystem, the growth of residential development areas around
the area, amounting to 10%, has also presented several issues as well (Door Creek Watershed
Management Action Plan, 2016).
Extensive research on the levels of phosphorus has already begun within this project, and our
goal with this conservation plan is to build upon addressing the phosphorus issue and expand to
working to protect Door Creek from that and other main contributing factors to the loss of
biodiversity in this ecosystem.
For this project, we have identified three main targets to address the issue. The first target is
the aquatic species that live within Door Creek, we will measure the health of this target by the
biotic index of the macroinvertebrates that currently reside within the creek. The second target
is the Door Creek ecosystem, meaning the chemical composition and purity of the water, which
will be indicated by the level of algae within Lake Kegonsa, the outlet body of water for Door
Creek. Finally, our last target is the riparian buffer that surrounds Door Creek, which will be
identified by the total amount of ground cover and the proportion of native versus invasive
species of plants located within the buffer. The main threats to these targets include climate
change, phosphorus runoff, invasive species, and pollution.
This will be an important effort, not only to the native flora and fauna of Door Creek, but also
the the residents who live in the area and enjoy the recreational and health benefits that it
provides to them.
Residential development and agriculture in and around the Door Creek watershed pose a direct
threat to the biological diversity and water quality of the creek. Sustainable practices and
proper management are vital to the health of the ecosystem, as the future of Door Creek relies
on a concerted effort between Dane County and landowners of the Door Creek watershed.

]]> Clean Fuel Partners (CFP) owns several anaerobic digesters and currently uses them to
produce electricity to be sold to a local utility. However, this arrangement is only profitable
because the two companies have a power purchase agreement (PPA) with one another. Once the
PPA is up, Clean Fuel Partners needs to find a different use for the biogas produced by their
digesters, as well as for the fiber produced as a byproduct in the process. The fiber especially
needs to be transported outside of the Yahara watershed as to not pollute the watershed with
excess nutrients.
Our team has come up with the option of scrubbing the biogas of impurities, and then
injecting it into a natural gas pipeline to generate revenue from Renewable Identification
Numbers (RINs) through companies in California. RINs have a set value based on the material
made to produce the natural gas. Based on current feed into digesters at Clean Fuel Partners,
there would be a mix of D3 and D5 RINs. However, in order to increase the profit margins, we
have decided to pursue solely D3 RINs, as they are more valuable, and are made almost entirely
from cellulosic matter (manure). Based on current gas production this would total between
$6,200-$9,300 a day for two running digesters.
The process for producing pipeline ready gas requires the purchase and implementation
of several new technologies including a gas scrubber, a compressor, tube trailers, and storage
tanks. A gas scrubber is required to clean the biogas of impurities, until it is 96.7% methane.
Amine scrubbers are the most efficient technology for the job, but have a high initial investment
of approximately $2.4 million. Methane must be compressed for transport; thus, a compressor is
needed on site, which totals $100,000. Tube trailers are used to transport natural gas to the
injection point where it will be added to the pipeline, and it would cost between $500 and $1,000
4
for a third party to transport the gas every eight days. As a fall back should anything happen to
the compressor, or to the tube trailers, we also recommend purchasing portable storage tanks for
the gas, which would be a $4,000 investment.
The fiber byproduct of the digesters is currently not profitable for Clean Fuel Partners. In
order to make it a more valuable part of the process, we have decided to pelletize it. Pelletizing
fiber removes a large amount of the moisture from it, reducing transportation costs. The fiber
pellets can then serve as a marketable product such as biofertilizer for farms or gardens.
Similarly, with the natural gas process, there are several new technologies that need to be put in
place in order to pelletize the fiber.
The first new technology that would need to be put in place for the fiber pelletizing
process is a rotary drum dryer, in order to remove the vast majority of the moisture from the fiber
product. This would have an upfront cost of $480,000, and an operational cost of $846 a day.
After the fiber has been dried, it needs to be pelletized into the final product shape. The pelletizer
costs $300,000, and has a daily operational cost of $300. Assuming daily earnings between
$2,500 and $8,500, it would take approximately half of a year to pay for the new fiber
machinery.
The design that we are suggesting has a large upfront cost, but the payback period for the
entire initial investment based on RIN prices and fiber prices would only be one to two years.
Also, the technologies for pipeline injection are being used by other natural gas producers, so it
is proven to work. Farms that produce biogas also pelletize their fiber using a similar process to
our proposed option, so this is also a viable option.
Future considerations include implementing a fourth digester to increase gas production.
Another option would be looking into a source for more manure, so that more cellulosic methane
5
can be produced. This would greatly increase revenue but would involve the costs associated
with transporting more manure, as well as where to get the manure from.

]]> This project is the result of a collaboration between the UW-Madison School
of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) and the Dane County Department of Human Services
(DCDHS).
DCDHS and the Dane County Board of Supervisors have identified “super-utilizers” of human
services as a population who would be more effectively served by a coordinated response. The
super-utilizer population’s needs, while possibly being met individually and in isolation, would be
better met through coordination. In an effort to meet this goal, DCDHS has asked Public Health:
Principles and Practice Master of Public Health (MPH) students at the SMPH to look at the
benefits and barriers of data integration as it relates to the super-utilizer population.

Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner.

UniverCity Year Contact Info
Gavin Luter
Managing Director
gavin@cows.org
608-261-1141

University Faculty Contact
Barbara Duerst
Population Health Sciences

barbara.duerst@wisc.edu

Local Government / Community Contact
Lila Walsh

County Clerk Administrator
walsh.lila@countyofdane.com

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