Epic to Restore Sugar River Segment Near Verona Campus

by Ayelen Flores, age 16

Dane County’s biggest software company plans to continue helping the environment by constructing a new road near the campus and restoration of a river, to help animals and open a new recreational place for the public. Epic is a company that develops software and holds medical records of patients which can be accessed through doctors and the patient. Epic has a large campus in Verona, Wisconsin that continues to expand with multiple plants and trees incorporated throughout the area.

Epic has continued to expand its software to be a sufficient tool for not only doctors but patients by helping users keep track of medical visits, medications, and other health information. The company has over 13,000 employees scattered through 6 campuses.

The project will restore the Sugar River and construct a new road Hyper Drive will be from Epic Lane to HWY 18/151, which will also cross over Military Ridge State Trail. There will also be a new bike trail, parking and public access to the river for kayakers and anglers. Epic will restore 6 acres of wetlands and 3.5 acres of upland areas to become a meandering stream changing its ditch form from before. The restoration of Sugar River will boost the quality of water, the habitat, and help fish move through the watershed.

Before construction began, community members and residents had concerns regarding the well being of the wetland and nearby animals. Epic received comment regarding the project from Southern Wisconsin Trout Unlimited (SWTU) that the mitigation and restoration plans were inadequate while also stating the permit submitted was not reviewed in detail. However, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) held a hearing about the construction to provide more information to the public.

A lot of partners helped with finding an open space to operate and provide regulatory oversight which includes the city of Verona, town of Verona, Dane County, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and U.S Fish and Wildlife Services.

Construction started on June 12, 2026 and is expected to last until September 30, 2027. When the Military Ridge State Trail part is done it will be open for snowmobiles. The project will help animals, especially fish and other nearby aquatic animals to move through the area more easily.

[Sources: City of Verona; 15 WMTV; Friends of Military Ridge Trail; Southern Wisconsin Trout Unlimited]