Rep. Shelia Stubbs Introduces Legislation to Make Retention Ponds Safer in Wisconsin
MADISON, WI – After introducing legislation to enhance safety measures for retention ponds in Wisconsin, Representative Shelia Stubbs (D-Madison) released the following statement:
“In the United States, accidental injury is the leading cause of death for children. The death of a child is a loss that no parents should have to endure, especially when it is a result of a preventable accident. A large portion of these accidental deaths are drowning incidents. In fact, drowning is the leading cause of injury death for children ages 1-4, the second leading cause of injury death for children 5-14, and the third leading cause of injury death for children 15-19, according to the CDC.
The tragic drowning deaths of 8-year-old Legend Sims and 6-year-old Antwon Amos, Jr, two brothers from Sun Prairie who fell into a retention pond earlier this year, opened my eyes to the unique danger this type of pond poses to children’s safety. Sadly, this was not the first case of a retention pond claiming an innocent child’s life in our state. In 2012, firefighters recovered the body of 5-year-old Jeremiah Conn from a retention pond in Stoughton. More recently, in 2019, a 12-year-old boy from Kaukauna, Dylun Tapio, drowned in his neighborhood’s retention pond while trying to save a turtle with his brothers. Something needs to be done to ensure that young ones, who are already at a heightened risk of drowning, do not lose their lives to these ponds.
Retention ponds are not for recreational use. Their sole purpose is to hold and distribute storm runoff; they are often mandated by local planning commissions to prevent flooding. Though they may look harmless, retention ponds can pose a serious safety threat to children. The water contained in these ponds is highly contaminated and can lead to health concerns; runoff from storms can bring pollutants such as pesticides, oils, bacteria, waste, and PFAs into retention ponds. Additionally, the stagnant nature of the water breeds blue-green algae, known to cause serious illnesses in humans, animals, and plants. Lots of children are attracted to these bodies of water, whether it be to cool down in the summer or play together on a frozen pond- posing an even greater risk to children as temperatures continue to rise throughout the Midwest.
All in all, retention ponds are not safe to play in or around. However, none of this information is intuitive to a curious, small child who might not know the difference between a retention pond filled with storm water and a recreational lake for swimming and fishing. The numerous drownings and injuries involving children in retention ponds across the United States point to the need for increased safety regulations for these structures. LRB-5731/1 would require individuals who possess these retention ponds to both install and maintain a fence around the perimeter in addition to installing signage that identifies the retention pond and the dangerous of entering.
It is evident something needs to be done to keep our children safe from preventable injuries and deaths. Increasing the safety precautions around retention ponds will prevent further injuries and deaths of children in our communities. As a parent, I can safely say that the cost of installing a fence is nowhere near the cost of a child’s life. Securing these retention ponds with fencing and adequate signage of the dangers presented will keep our kids safe without disrupting the purpose and function of these structures.”
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
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