RLIA Charts Course—Destination Unknown

Submitted by Betsey Delorey - RLIA Public Relations Committee

The Rock Lake Improvement Association Board met Monday, April 5.  The board welcomed back snowbird secretary, Margaret Krueger.  Yet to return were Bill Amann and Ron Niedfelt.  Attending were Jim Colegrove, Betsey Delorey, Lee Gatzke, Jan Jenrich, Katie Otto, and Jim Plotz.  Scott Johnson was absent. 

Gatzke, chairman of the Grant Committee, reported the two DNR planning grant applications were not funded this cycle.  When applications are submitted to DNR, regional staff review and rate eligible projects according to how well they meet the program criteria established by law and administrative code.  Then all the projects are ranked State-wide by their scores and funded as long as the money holds out.  There are two grant cycles each year; February and August.  Each cycle the pool of projects and applicants vary and the amount of State funding fluctuates.

 RLIA’s applications received 18 of 30 points.  The cutoff for grants funded was 25.  Before the awards were announced, the engineer who wrote the grants for RLIA said, in his experience, cutoffs ranged between 12 and 19 so there was disappointment at the news.  RLIA completed the requirements for their 2009 grant in January to be able to submit for the February cycle.  Even the 2009 grant that scored a respectable 24 last year would not have been funded this cycle.  Jenrich explained most of the funding this cycle went to the northern part of the state to fund establishment of new lake management plans.

 Plotz suggested reconvening the Grant Committee with a few new members to discuss which direction to go from here.  The board discussed having more representation from residents around the lake, both from the Town and the City of Lake Mills and more non-riparians. 

 The board was charged with finding people they know who are able and willing to educate themselves on the issues and to work collaboratively with others.  The board invites YOU to contact President Jan Jenrich (414-852-0538) if that description fits you and you have an interest in the protection and betterment of Rock Lake!

 Delorey suggested that RLIA continue in the meantime to consult with the engineer and their DNR Southwest Regional contact to tweak the grant applications for the August grant cycle.  The board is researching both suggestions made by Plotz and Delorey for the May meeting.

 In other business, RLIA may sponsor several events to have some fun this summer!  RLIA will try to find their niche at the Lake Mills Town & Country Days, the July 4^th Celebration and Fall Festival.  Look for our booth in Lake Mills and our boat in the pontoon parade on Rock Lake.  We will have available information, membership materials and FREE icy cold sweet confections!  “What?” you ask…you’ll have to seek us out to find out and get yours! 

 The Bylaws Committee shared their proposal for modifications.  The committee of  Colegrove, Delorey, Jenrich, Otto and Ann Hundt, an RLIA member and resident of the City met four times, January through March.  Updates include reformatting for readability, new definitions, clarification on membership levels and privileges, officer duties and elections.

 The board will conduct their final review and vote on the proposed changesl at the May meeting.   The board-approved proposal will then be presented to the general membership for their sustaining vote required to amend.  A special meeting of the membership will be held at the City Municipal Building in June.  It will be properly noticed on the RLIA website (RockLake.org) and through membership mailings.

 President Jenrich reluctantly received a letter of resignation submitted by secretary Margaret Krueger, who stated she continues to feel at odds with other board members since the last annual meeting.  Margaret has served on the board for six years, feels she has served her time and does not plan to run for election in August.  The Board wishes to thank her for her service and commend her for her outstanding volunteerism during her tenure. 

 The meeting concluded with an interview granted to free-lance journalist Rachel Primmer and adjourned at 10:30pm.  As a reminder, the general public workshop on the 2009 grant findings will be Monday, April 12, 6:30pm at the City Municipal Building.  Neal O’Reilly of the engineering firm Hey & Associates of Brookfield, WI, will be on hand to conduct the review and Q&A.   

March 8, 2010

              RLIA Hears from DNR Officials on Glacial Heritage Area

                                                    Submitted by Betsey Delorey
                                                 RLIA Public Relations Committee

The Rock Lake Improvement Association held its regular monthly public board meeting on Monday, March 8 at the Lake Mills Municipal Building.
Featured guest speaker was John Pohlman, senior planning analyst with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.  Mr. Pohlman has
worked for the Endangered Species program and is now with the DNR's Lands and Facilities Bureau.  Also present was Steve Miller, Director
of the DNR’s Bureau of Lands and Facilities. 

 Mr. Pohlman was the Team Leader of the group that developed the Land Legacy Report, which has given the Department a 50 year vision
for protecting 229 very special places and landscapes in Wisconsin.  The Glacial Heritage Area is one of these places and also one of the first
to have an implementation plan developed for it.  The development of the Glacial Heritage Area Plan was also completed under Mr. Pohlman’s
leadership.

 Mr. Pohlman presented an exciting overview of the Glacial Heritage Area, after which both he and Mr. Miller took questions from the RLIA
board and others in attendance.  GHA is a community-based program aimed at providing local destinations for half-day and full-day trips
featuring outdoor experiences.  The plan calls for the procurement of lands to large parcels of prairie, oak savanna, oak woodlands, and large
wetland complexes over a large area of Southeast Wisconsin, including all of Jefferson County, with Lake Mills as the hub. 

Jefferson County was chosen because it is less than an hour’s drive from over 50% of the State’s population.   In addition to proximity to population,
the County offers existing quality recreational opportunities, an extensive foundation of already protected parcels, relatively low cost of targeted
land acquisitions combined with good zoning, smart local growth plans, and broad support from local government.

The GHA proposal includes conservation parks, linking trails connecting cities to nature, river-based conservation areas, wildlife and natural
areas and paddling trails.  Paddling maps are already available through Jefferson County Parks.  The program will be funded principally through
State Stewardship program.  A 20,000 acre expansion of wildlife areas for hunting and trapping is envisioned.

Annual economic benefits to the communities within the Glacial Heritage Area are projected to be between $50-100 million of direct revenue
injected into the local economy for things like gas, bait, restaurants, etc.  In addition, there will be indirect revenue - a multiplier of direct spending
that has the potential to be several times higher - includes things like mom shopping the antique store when in the area.   Increased economic traffic
is also expected to diversify the local economy, increase property values, and attract “footloose” businesses.  The latter are businesses not tied
to specific cities that can locate anywhere.  They tend to locate around good schools, low taxes, adequate labor force, and quality outdoor
recreational amenities.

GHA was approved at a DNR meeting in October, 2009.  Also approved was the first land purchase, which is currently under negotiation in the
vicinity of Rock Lake.  Currently, the program is transitioning from the design to implementation phase under the leadership of Paulette Harder. 
She will divide up the work, set near-term priorities and coordinate the implementation.  RLIA is contacting Ms. Harder for a future program.

Following the presentation and question and answer session, the board conducted its regular business meeting.  Present were Jim Colegrove,
Betsey Delorey, Lee Gatzke, Jan Jenrich, Scott Johnson, Katie Otto and Jim Plotz.  Absent were Bill Amann, Margaret Krueger and Ron Niedfeldt.  Lee Gatzke was unanimously nominated and approved to represent RLIA at the Wisconsin Association of Lakes Convention in Green Bay,
Mar 30-Apr1.  Also unanimous was the vote to approve the annual affiliate membership to the Rock River Coalition.

In a motion by Delorey, seconded by Otto, the board voted unanimously to approve a trial of the online Paypal payment system to accept
membership dues on the RLIA website, RockLake.org.  In doing so, the board charged Colegrove, treasurer, Jenrich, president and Plotz, vice
president, with devising a system of appropriate checks and balances from accepted and best accounting practices.

The board unanimously agreed to schedule a time for the general public to meet with the engineer to review the Final 2009 DNR Grant Report and
to discuss the status of the current grant applications.  The date will be Monday, April 12, 6:30pm, at the Municipal Building, first floor.  In a motion
by Johnson, seconded by Plotz, the board approved up to $250 for engineer consulting at the meeting.  Publicity for the meeting will be through
every means available to RLIA, newspapers, website, cable TV spots, and an RLIA membership e-mailing. 

Jenrich explained at length the need for additional testing of bacteria and phosphorous in the Miljala Shores drainage ditch during the spring runoff
to complete the data set needed for the planning phase for the project.  Testing will be completed by RLIA volunteers trained by the engineer.  Gatzke will head the project with assistance from Delorey, Plotz and Jenrich.  Larry Clark, a former RLIA board member who was instrumental in the
2009 grant process, was on hand Monday to help determine which sites needed further testing based on the data collected through the 2009 grant.  Some sites had not been identified during the first round of testing, while others had little or no water running when tests were being taken.

Gatzke motioned, Plotz seconded, to authorize spending not exceed $2500 for further testing at the expanded site list and for some tests different
from those done in 2009.  E Coli tests, as a subset of fecal tests, are $35 each.  Dissolved phosphorous tests are approximately $21.  All testing
will be done through the State Hygiene Lab.  The plan is to test at nine sites during five substantial rain events.

Under Old Business the board revisited the idea of videotaping board meetings on local cable access channels which had been previously brought
before the board by a member and tabled.  Board comments included not wanting to spend RLIA money or tax payer dollars on the videotaping
and lack of precedents involving videotaping by any other local private organizations.  President Jenrich invited a motion on the issue and none was
forthcoming.  The issue has been dropped.

The board concluded its business meeting with a discussion on the 2010 membership mailing.  Decisive action will be taken at the April meeting
after costs and options can be determined.  The board felt the membership term should be changed from the calendar year to June through May to
reach the greatest number of lake enthusiasts.  Past mailings have been sent to almost 2,500 addresses throughout the Rock Lake watershed
resulting in 182 individual, family, and business/organization memberships.  It was proposed that the mailing be more targeted and scaled back to
control costs.  This year, extra emphasis will be placed on email reminders to current members and spreading information to the public regarding
the website Paypal membership services at RockLake.org…Join RLIA.

After almost 3.5 hours, the meeting adjourned at 9:50pm by unanimous vote!  The next board meeting will be April 5, 6:30pm, first floor of the
Municipal Building, 200 Water Street, Lake Mills.  Contact President Jan Jenrich with any suggestions or questions at 414-852-0538.

February 12 2010
               RLIA Wins Support of Local Government
                           Submitted by RLIA Public Relations Committee

            Since the first of the year, the Rock Lake Improvement Association (RLIA) has focused on closing out the 2009 DNR grant to study the pollution entering Rock Lake from the drainage ditch into the west side Miljala Shores channel.  The paperwork for this grant needs to be finalized before the next two DNR grants can be funded. Those two grants will further study the pollution and include engineering studies needed to move on to the next phase, which is a protection grant from the DNR to correct the problem.  

            RLIA is working to complete the final report of the 2009 grant study from data obtained by Underwater Habitat Investigations, Jefferson County Land and Water Conservation Department, and Hey and Associates. It will be available to the public at RockLake.org or at local libraries. 

            Two grant applications for the February 2010 cycle will be posted on the website.  The DNR offers lake planning and protection grant programs because “The United States has a treasure house of natural resources and Wisconsin holds the "Crown Jewels"—its 15,000 lakes. But Wisconsin's lakes are in jeopardy on numerous fronts and many lakes need help. Much of the management of lakes in Wisconsin is limited by a lack of information about the lake, the watershed and the people who use it.”

The DNR encourages local organizations to obtain information on water quality and other data, and to develop stronger state/local partnerships which lead to more effective watershed protection and lake management. Initial review of grant applications is conducted by each DNR Region Office and decisions on eligibility are made and projects are ranked. Decisions on each application are generally made within 60 days, by April 1^st, for the grant spring cycle.

Criteria used to rank an application include the degree to which the project assists local decision-making in the formation of a strategy to enhance or maintain a lake's quality, the degree to which the project will enhance knowledge of a lake's water quality, watershed or ecosystem, the extent and means by which information about the project will be distributed, and the level of financial support and cooperation from other affected management units.  RLIA sought letters of support for the Miljala Shores drainage ditch pollution project from both the Town of Lake Mills and Jefferson County Land and Water.  Obtaining two letters of support from local government agencies is worth an extra point in the grant scoring process.

On Tuesday, Feb 9, the Town Board voted to issue the letters.  The entire town board agreed that the pollution entering the lake from the drainage ditch is an important issue. Chairman Jim Heinz stated that he has been interested in quantifying the bacteria problem first recognized two years ago. Supervisor Schroeder was concerned that the entire area should be studied to identify all potential sources, saying he wanted to know the whole story of that area.  Supervisor Berns was the lone vote against issuing letters of support for the project. RLIA has verbal support from both the County and the State DNR representative and expects the County letters of support this week. 

RLIA began its outreach to the landowners adjacent to the drainage ditch last November with a personal letter and followed up with personal visits in January. The engineer will be addressing the homeowner group at a listening session later this month.  RLIA business is captured in agendas, minutes, and newspaper articles, available on RockLake.org and updated monthly.  All finalized grant documentation is made available online and interested citizens are invited to phone any board member for answers to specific questions.  President Jenrich can be reached at 414-852-0538.

DNR official Doug Haag , realty operations chief in the DNR Bureau of Facilities and Lands, and his associate will be addressing RLIA on March 8, 6:30pm at the City Building.  Also, tentatively on April 12, RLIA will welcome a representative of the DNR Glacial Heritage Program, an exciting new initiative to enhance tourism in the southern part of the State while protecting critical prairie, savanna, and wetlands habitats. 

            RLIA encourages all citizens to become familiar with our goals, sign up for membership, and volunteer time and energy to our local “jewel.”   RLIA thanks the local citizens who contacted the Town, County and State DNR to register support for these grants.  Your communications were critical to receiving local government support.  RLIA thanks the citizenry and the local government for uniting behind this project! 

January 29,  2010

                                          RLIA Steady as She Goes

                                 Submitted by RLIA Public Relations Committee

Rock Lake Improvement Association President Jan Jenrich called a special meeting of the Board of Directors Monday, Jan 18.  In attendance were Jim Colegrove, Betsey Delorey, Lee Gatzke, Jan Jenrich, Scott Johnson, Margaret Krueger, Katie Otto and Jim Plotz. Bill Amann and Ron Niedfeldt were out of town. 

The only item on the agenda was approving funds to allow the Board’s engineer, Neil O’Reilly of Hey & Associates, Brookfield, WI to attend the Jefferson County Land and Water Committee meeting in Jefferson on January 27 and the Lake Mills Town Board meeting on February 9.  A motion was made by Otto and seconded by Delorey to approve an amount not to exceed $500 for O’Reilly’s consulting and travel expenses.

RLIA is seeking letters of support from two local governments to enhance the likelihood of being awarded two DNR grants this spring.  The grants are intended to complete the study of the drainage ditch pollution that flows into Rock Lake via the Miljala Shores channel and gather data necessary for the design of improvements or other measures to stop the pollution entering Rock Lake through this channel. 

The grants this cycle also specify funds for the engineer to meet with the public and adjacent landowners.  All interested parties will be welcome to come participate in those meetings, to ask questions and make suggestions.

The special meeting discussion leaned towards approving the funds necessary for two appearances by the engineer but, in a motion by Plotz, seconded by Delorey, the original motion was amended to read “Jenrich and Otto will assess the results [of the County meeting] and determine Neil O’Reilly would still be required to attend the Town meeting, after discussion with Town Board members Jim Heinz, Dave Schroeder and Tom Berns.”

The amendment to the original motion passed unanimously.  The motion to approve funds for the engineer to represent RLIA at both meetings passed 5-2.  The meeting started at 6:30pm and was adjourned at 7:04pm.

This past week, four board members and the engineer then attended the Jefferson County Land and Water Committee meeting Wednesday, Jan 27 at 8:30am.  The Committee invited RLIA President Jenrich to sit at their table and explain the upcoming grant application and the request for a letter of support.  LWC member Carlton Zentner expressed his opinion the County deals with groundwater issues and the DNR is supposed to handle surface water.  He also objected to the County providing office staff for paperwork.  The 2009 grant cost the County $4,000 in the form of LWC in-kind hours devoted to the ditch study.  President Jenrich explained the February 1 grant applications do not include any in-kind time from the County.  All that is being requested of the County is a letter of support.        

The Committee chairman Michael Burow felt the committee had not had enough advance notice of RLIA’s request.  The head of the Jefferson County Land and Water Conservation Department, Mark Watkins, apologized for handing them letters from the public that morning saying the letters had arrived in his office after their committee packets had been distributed.  Mr. Watkins and his staff felt more contact with landowners was necessary at this point in the grant process.  He stated he has achieved their greatest success on similar projects when more people are brought on board early in the process.  President Jenrich explained that all avenues are currently being exhausted to educate and inform citizens of the Rock Lake watershed and indicated RLIA’s willingness to redouble their efforts.

After calling an end to the discussion, the County voted to instruct LWCD to write RLIA a letter of support for the applications if RLIA is able to obtain written permission from adjacent landowners for further testing on their property.  The week prior to the meeting, RLIA board members personally visited all the adjacent landowners to share information on the RLIA grant process.  All, with one exception, had indicated their concern for the lake and interest in the results of further testing.  RLIA is in the process of trying to comply with the County’s requirement.  The Committee stipulated that Mark Watkins will determine if the letter of support will be issued if it is not possible to obtain written permission from 100% of the landowners.

RLIA still hopes to stay on track with its ambitious grant timeline.  This next round of grants will move things through the data gathering and design phases of the project.  Implementation is set to begin spring of 2011 at the earliest. 

RLIA plans to submit the final grant report and required paperwork for the 2009 grant the first week of February.  Copies of the final report will be available to the public at the Fargo Library after DNR approval.   Please see the website RockLake.org to view the report, also meeting agendas, minutes, project news, pictures, and a membership form. 

Those wishing to support this effort to clean up the drainage ditch pollution into Rock Lake are encouraged to contact Town of Lake Mills, City of Lake Mills and Jefferson County officials.  Contact information is available on the website.  If you have questions or comments for RLIA, you are invited to call President Jan Jenrich, 414-852-0538.

JANUARY 2010
                                 
                                          RLIA Eye on the Horizon
                                                               Submitted by
                                                 RLIA Public Relations Committee

The Rock Lake Improvement Association Board met last Monday, Jan 11, with board members Jim Colegrove, Betsey Delorey, Lee Gatzke, Scott Johnson, Margaret Krueger, Katie Otto, Jim Plotz, and President Jan Jenrich present.  The Board flew through approving last month’s minutes and the treasurer’s report.  Very generous donations were received over the holidays.  Much discussion took place regarding how best to adequately thank members for their continued and much needed support.

With a fairly short agenda, most of the meeting centered on the Board’s primary focus which is the continued study of the pollution entering Rock Lake via the agricultural drainage ditch running into the Miljala Shores channel.  Last month the Board voted to apply for two DNR planning grants; one to continue the study of the ditch and a separate one to update aquatic plant life data for the entire lake, as the Board has received comments on changes in plant life from both City and Town residents.

President Jan Jenrich explained that the structuring and timing of the grants needed to be changed because of input from the engineering firm and an additional request by Jefferson County Land and Water.  Two additional studies, a drain tile survey and a wetland inventory/delineation, will add a total of $8,000 to the development costs.

DNR planning grants are awarded in maximum amounts of $10,000 and a single organization is allowed to have up to two at one time. The engineer has recommended two grant applications, devoted to further testing of the drainage ditch and planning, be submitted by the February deadline.  If received, that project can be kept on schedule to apply for a DNR protection grant of up to $100,000. by May of 2011 to actually stop the ditch pollution a year from this spring.

With the limitations on funding, President Jenrich stressed RLIA’s focus has to be the ditch pollution.  The second top priority will be plant life.  Because the DNR accepts grant applications twice a year, the revised plan includes writing for grants, devoted to the study of the aquatic plant life, by the August deadline. If awarded, these studies would be conducted the spring of 2011. 

RLIA wants the public to understand the agricultural ditch draining into the Miljala Shores channel is a serious concern requiring prompt attention.  Initial studies concluded the “non-source point pollution” is continually flowing into Rock Lake at a much faster rate than previously thought.  The sediment loading “never sleeps”.

University of Wisconsin Non-point Source Water Pollution Abatement Program explains damage from this kind of pollution by sediments and nutrients can cause the lake water to become cloudy or “turbid” making it difficult for fish to see and feed.  A turbidity curtain or barrier has been temporarily placed at the mouth of the Miljala Shores channel across Cedar Lane from the drainage ditch to further quantify and impede the steady sediment flow.

Sediment also can damage fish gills.  Many fish lay their eggs on gravel beds and sediment covers this fish spawning habitat.  Sediment clouds the water and covers plant leaves, reducing sunlight and inhibiting photosynthesis.

Nutrients such as phosphorus contribute to over-fertilization of lakes which increases undesirable weeds and algae growth.  Excess weeds and algae are harmful to fish and make a lake less attractive for swimming and boating.  When algae and aquatic weeds die they are broken down by bacteria.  Bacteria consume oxygen during decomposition and make it difficult for fish to survive.  Excess algae can reduce population of bottom-rooted plants which provide habitat for fish by blocking sunlight.

Two members addressed the Board during Citizen Input.  Hope Oostdik asked why she was unable to view minutes of Board meetings on RockLake.org since she was unable to attend in December.  Minutes are recorded one month and reviewed and approved the following month.  As soon as board meeting minutes are approved they are posted on the website.  Steve Oostdik informed the Board that he has posted his property for NO trespassing and will require a written request at least two weeks in advance for any further testing to be done on his property where the drainage ditch enters the Miljala Shore channel.

If you enjoy Rock Lake for recreation or sport, if your business benefits from revenues generated by people being drawn to Rock Lake, or if you simply live in the Rock Lake watershed and feel a responsibility to preserve and protect this beautiful natural resource, PLEASE come to our meetings and learn more about the work of RLIA on behalf of the lake.  Members are asked to encourage one neighbor to become a new member this year.  You can help us save costs by renewing your membership now before our annual membership drive. Membership levels are Individual--$15, Family--$25, and Business or Organization--$50.   For more information, contact Jan Jenrich, 414-852-0358 or send a note and your check to Jim Colegrove, RLIA Treasurer,  PO Box 255, Lake Mills, WI  53551. 

December 14, 2009
                                                                    RLIA Full Speed Ahead on Two Grants
 

The Rock Lake Improvement Association Board tackled a full agenda last Monday at their regularly scheduled monthly board meeting. This month’s speaker, Kevin A. Delorey of Quarles & Brady LLP, was first up addressing the topic of liability insurance for non-profits.  He ran through general, personal, and contractual liability and asked, “What are your risks?” explaining the need for insurance often goes back to the size of the organization, type of activities conducted, and what property needs to be protected.  Mr. Delorey led an informative discussion
about developing a risk management plan that might include liability insurance at some future point when the Association acquires “assets” in the form of grant monies.  Past president Milt Strauss advised Board members to attend liability insurance workshops at the next Wisconsin Association of Lakes convention, March 30-April 1 in Green Bay.

Under Old Business, the Board took up completing the grant that studied the Miljola Shores drainage ditch off Cedar Lane.  In October, RLIA hired Hey & Associates, Inc. of Brookfield, WI to finish the work on the 2009 lake study grant.  Hey submitted its draft report earlier on Monday and copies were distributed at the meeting.  The report summarizes the water quality data, explains the dynamics of the flow of pollution from the former agricultural drainage ditch into the lake, and suggests management alternatives. 

Neal O’Reilly of Hey will work with Patricia Cicero of Jefferson County Land and Water in finalizing the report which must be submitted to the DNR to complete the lake study grant requirements by January 15.  This report will also be the basis of the application for the next $10,000 DNR lake planning grant which RLIA intends to seek for the purpose of continuing its efforts to find a solution to the pollution that is entering Rock Lake via the Miljola Shores channel.  The application is due Feb. 1 and grants are awarded April 15.

IF RLIA receives the grant in April, the next phase of the work on Miljola Shores drainage ditch will include talking with adjacent homeowners to identify feasible remedies.  The Board is determined to find solutions that are acceptable to all affected parties and that can be completed at no cost to individual land owners.  All costs will be funded through grants and donations.  If all goes as planned, the process of meeting with residents, gathering final data, and drawing up an executable engineering design will culminate in RLIA making application by May 1, 2011 for a $100,000 lake protection grant.  These funds will be used to actually construct the chosen remedy to eliminate the current sediment, phosphorus and bacteria pollution flow into the lake.

At the suggestion of President Jan Jenrich, the Board discussed at length whether the grant-writing process could be expedited to get the actual work done the summer of 2010 instead of 2011.  President Jenrich polled the Board members to see if they were in favor of trying to get pledges of public support equal to the $10,000 needed to complete the work that would otherwise require the next lake planning grant.  This would have allowed RLIA to skip that next grant step and get to work this spring on securing the $100,000 lake protection grant.  Board members Bill Amann, Jim Colegrove, Scott Johnson, Margaret Krueger, Katie Otto and Jim Plotz expressed their concerns that trying to accelerate the process might involve too tight of a timeframe and, combined with the “hard times” of our current economy, might make success unlikely at this time.  While recognizing those as legitimate concerns, Betsey Delorey, Lee Gatzke and Jan Jenrich were in favor of trying to accelerate the process.

Under New Business, the Board voted to authorize Hey & Associates to write a separate $10,000 planning grant to update the study of aquatic plants around the entire lake, last done in 2001.  The Long-range Plan for Rock Lake recommends that information be kept and updated every three to five years.  Bill Amann said changes to aquatic plant life was the #1 concern raised by visitors to the RLIA booth set up at Lake Mills Fall Festival last October.  Board members shared their own observations along with comments from people all around the lake about disappearing plants, plants growing where none have grown previously and new varieties crowding out existing beds. 

The DNR allows that up to two grants may be held by a single organization at one time.  President Jenrich stated, “These grants will give us a better understanding of what’s going on with our lake.”  Board members discussed the advantages of having Hey & Associates do both grants to assemble a comprehensive “big picture”.  RLIA is required to match 25% of any grants received out of funds on hand, additional fundraising, or in-kind donation of labor.  Hey & Associates does not charge RLIA for the opportunity of writing the grants, whether or not the grants are awarded. 

President Jenrich is getting ready to submit the final financial report for the current grant which studied the ditch pollution.  The current $10,000 grant required a 25% match from RLIA of $3,870.  When all costs had been tallied, DNR gave RLIA $9,944.38.  Once all RLIA and Jefferson County Land  & Water volunteer hours are tallied and subtracted from the match, the final cost to RLIA will be $663.85.

If you are looking for an income tax deduction yet this year, RLIA invites you to mail your contribution to Jim Colegrove, Treasurer, RLIA, Box 255, Lake Mills, WI  53551.  If you wish, you can earmark your contribution to be used specifically as matching funds to be applied towards any grants received from the State.  Your selfless gift to this great cause of preserving Rock Lake will signal your commitment to the vibrancy of our community now and to securing the wonders and enjoyment of the natural beauty that surrounds us for generations to come.  Please visit www.RockLake.org.


November 9,2009

                                Rock Lake Improvement Association – Monthly Meeting Report
                                                             By RLIA PR Committee

The Rock Lake Improvement Association (RLIA) board tackled a full agenda at their recent monthly meeting, held on Monday, November 9. First on the agenda was a suggestion to hold listening sessions to obtain public input regarding lake issues. The board agreed to hold at least four in-depth listening sessions, to be held at various times in an effort to encourage a large turnout and to accommodate the public’s different schedules. Listening sessions will be scheduled as follows: one on a weekday; one in the evening; one on a Saturday; and a fourth will be scheduled in early summer to accommodate our summer residents. The first three sessions will be held in Spring 2010 and information about specific dates will be announced in a future article. The RLIA is always interested in hearing from anyone regarding lake issues. We encourage feedback any time – whether at an upcoming listening session, a regular monthly meeting, by email at mail@rocklake.org or by mail at P.O. Box 255 Lake Mills, WI 53551.

Another item on the agenda was a discussion about changing the RLIA t-shirt design. The board agreed to sponsor a t-shirt design contest that would be open to everyone, with the winning design screen-printed onto the new RLIA t-shirts this spring. The current t-shirt design is a scenic view of the trestle that goes over the lake. If you have a design idea, and would like to see it on the 2010 RLIA t-shirts, the board encourages you to submit your design by February 15, 2010. Designs can be submitted in person at the RLIA monthly meeting, by email, or sent by mail.

The Grant Committee provided a progress report on the status of the current grant, which was obtained for the purpose of studying  the pollution entering the lake from a ditch that flows into the channel on the west side of Rock Lake. A contract has been signed with Hey and Associates and they will begin their work on the engineering study this week. They hope to have their work finished by the Thanksgiving holiday.

In other RLIA business, President Jan Jenrich stated she is continuing to update the RLIA website and is working on the history of the organization to be added to the About Us section of the website. The history will chronicle the beginnings of the organization and list the achievements and work the RLIA has done throughout the years.  RLIA Secretary Margy Krueger will assist with this effort. Another addition to the website is a photo section, where photos of the lake can be added. If you have a photo of the lake that you would like to include on the website, please submit it by email, indicating if you would like your name listed with the photo and any information that should be included with the photo.

A discussion regarding performing an aquatic plant study was tabled until next month, and the remainder of the meeting focused on discussing the Rock Lake Long Range Management Plan goals.

Regular monthly RLIA meetings are held at the Lake Mills City Building on the second Monday of every month at 6:30pm. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 14.

  
October 12,2009
                RLIA Picks Environmental Engineering Firm to Halt Pollution
                                           By Betsey Delorey, RLIA Public Relations

At the top of the agenda of their regular monthly meeting last Monday, the Rock Lake Improvement Association Board heard from speaker Geoff Maclay, a leading champion of  headwater and watershed preservation and enhancement in Wisconsin for over 35 years.   As founder of the Cedar Lakes Conservation Foundation in 1974, the oldest land trust of its kind in the state, he has managed the private, non-profit gathering and protection of approximately 2500 acres of strategically placed parcels of land surrounding Big and Little Cedar Lakes in Washington County.  He recounted his group’s successes in preserving natural beauty and limiting runoff pollution to improve water quality and said the same thing could be accomplished in our area.

            Maclay encouraged the RLIA Board to start with the goal of identifying key parcels in the area that the community would want to preserve for the enjoyment of future generations.  He said “It is important to act now while land is still unspoiled” while also taking a longer view.  Working with government at local, state, and federal levels, as well as private benefactors and local landowners, a foundation can obtain the necessary funding and acquire access to land through conservation easements, gifts or bequests, and purchases.  His group began with twelve original members and a $12,000 initial investment and today has an annual operating budget of $50,000.  Board member Jim Plotz requested additional follow-up on what activities CLCF has found to be most effective in raising awareness and fundraising.

            Maclay was given a tour of the Lake Mills area around Rock Lake before the meeting.  He noted “a number of beautiful open spaces, wetlands, and woods” and complimented RLIA on its efforts to try to control the sediment runoff and nutrient loading in the west side Cedar Lane channel into Korth Bay.  The Board also heard a progress report from Grant Committee on that subject later in the meeting.

            In other RLIA business, Betsey Delorey reported for the By-laws Committee that a member had stepped forward at the annual meeting to help revise RLIA by-laws to make them clearer.  Ann Hundt introduced herself and requested suggestions from all the Board members of things they would like articulated or updated in the by-laws to be consistent with current practice.  She will return with a draft by the December meeting.

            The Board continued to struggle with the process of reviewing and approving minutes.  President Jan Jenrich advocated for more detail about Board business and Secretary Margaret Krueger requested more detail in the Public Comment section.  After additional discussion, the Board accepted minutes with amendments for both the regular meeting of September 14 and the annual meeting of Aug 22.  The annual meeting minutes will not be officially approved until the next annual meeting to be held  August of 2010 but the unofficial minutes have been approved for immediate publication to the website.  All minutes and agendas are available on the RLIA website, RockLake.org.

            The Grant Committee shared the results of the committee’s interviews of five engineering firms to complete the work remaining of the $10,000 lake planning grant.  The grant was initially awarded to identify sources of bacteria, sediment and nutrients to Rock Lake from the southwest subwatershed known as Miljala Shores.  To date, water flows have been measured, sediment flows have been estimated and high phosphorus, bacteria, E. coli, and fecal coli form counts have been recorded.  An engineering firm, working with the preliminary data, will finalize water quality data, evaluate the mapping of the drainage ditch site, and identify possible stabilization, wetland restoration, and other measures to stop the flow of pollutants.  The ditch flow greatly increases with storm water runoff but also significant is the constant slow-moving flow of groundwater.           

            The Grant Committee recommended Hey & Associates, a firm of 50 employees out of Brookfield, Wisconsin, to do the work and the recommendation was approved by a vote of 6-1.  Voting in favor were Bill Amann, Betsey Delorey, Lee Gatzke, Scott Johnson, Katie Otto, and Jim Plotz. Ron Niedfelt voted no and Margaret Krueger abstained. President Jan Jenrich only votes to break ties and Jim Colegrove was absent. 

            Hey & Associates Vice President Neal O’Reilly, PhD, PH represented his firm at the interview and will be the lead engineer on the project.   His experience includes preparation of lake and watershed management plans, particularly when water quality is at issue. He brings his extensive experience in lake management, water quality assessment and modeling, and storm water management to watershed planning projects. O’Reilly is a registered Professional Hydrologist in Wisconsin and received his PhD in Environmental Engineering from Marquette University. 

            His work will begin as soon as a contract is signed for the $3,000 remaining of the current grant, with the intention of preparing to submit another $10,000 grant application to the State DNR by February 2010 to gather technical data to design a multi-faceted solution for the bacteria, sediment and nutrient loading of Rock Lake.  President Jenrich requested a letter be drafted by the Public Relations Committee and sent to homeowners along the tributary to inform them of the project status and reassure them they will be kept fully informed on any new developments and that their input will be sought by the Board when possible solutions have been identified.

            Chairperson Katie Otto reported that the Public Relations Committee participated in the Lake Mills Fall Festival with an information booth.  Most popular with the crowd were the zebra mussel-covered rock and a small vile on loan from Jefferson County Land and Water Conservation containing a new invasive species called the spiny water flea.  Jenrich asked for information at the next meeting about reordering RLIA t-shirts and the possibility of including sweatshirts and hats in the order to expand fundraising sales.  Otto suggested the website (RockLake.org) might be a place to offer merchandise for sale
especially around the holidays.

            Regular monthly RLIA meetings are held at the Lake Mills City Building on the first floor on the second Monday of every month at 6:30.  State-wide and local experts on conservation and watershed management have been invited to address the group.  The next meeting is on Monday, November 9.