Rock Lake Improvement Association

Grant Final Report
Public Workshop – Listening Session

Monday, April 12, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.

Lake Mills Municipal Building

Workshop called to order – by Jan Jenrich at 6:30 p.m.

Attendance – Board members present were Jim Colegrove, Betsy Delorey, Lee Gatzke, Jan Jenrich, Scott Johnson, Margaret Krueger, and Katie Otto. Absent – Bill Amann, Ron Niedfeldt and Jim Plotz.

Review of agenda – Jenrich explained the structure of the workshop.

Introductions – Jenrich introduced Neal O’Reilly of Hey and Associates.

Discussion – O’Reilly explained the topics covered in the grants.

• Goals of Final Grant Report:  summarize water quality data from 2009, inventory stream channel to identify erosion problems, peak storm flows, recommendation what to do next
• Channel history created in 1957, for residential development.  1978 began filling in, 1998 first dredging, second dredging 2005, third in 2009 and temporary turbidity curtain at present
• elevated phosphorous levels by statewide means
• Nitrate and nitrites:  dissolved forms of nitrogen, elevated levels
• Fecal bacteria and ecoli bacteria, ie fecal waste, high measured at 5300 fecal coliforn
• High ecoli measured at 6100
• Alternatives range:

1.       Stream bank stabilization, 3000 linear feet

2.       ditch plugs, series of small dams, low cost

3.       wetland restoration, advantage biological activity, plants create unique environment in the muds, anerobic and aerobic, can break down nitrates like no other system, natural bacteria can kill ecoli, main disadvantage water has to flow through in a shallow sheet so take up a lot of surface area, land cost disadvantage

4.       sedimentation basins, quiet spot like a pond to settle out particulates, not a great filter for bacteria, phosphorus or nitrates

5.       temporary turbidity/sediment curtain, would need the length of the entire channel to settle out the peat, size based on surface area, current can’t do the job

6.       alum injection expensive,

7.       sand filters, not cheap and requires maintenance

• Recommendations:

1.       Better topographic maps, 1 ft contours

2.       Better understand landowner willingness

3.       Review existing drainage easements, legal rights

4.       Availability of state and fedal grants

5.       Rlia financial resources

• Management priorities:  To implement source controls and practices to trap or settle
• RLIA applied for two grants which were not selected for funds by the DNR. RLIA expects to resubmit the grants by the August deadline.
• In the meantime, RLIA is doing additional sampling of the tributary. 
• Commitment from uw stevens point to facilitate sample bottle for private wells.  Saturday short education how to sample, sample taps, and bring them back, samples to stevens point on a Monday, each owner gets their own results, not shared. 

Public question and answer session followed remarks by engineer.
           

Board meeting schedule – Next meeting is May 10, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. at Lake Mills Municipal Building.

Adjournment – Motion to adjourn was made by Gatzke and seconded by Colegrove. Carried. The meeting was adjourned at 8:42 p.m.

 Margaret Krueger, secretary