WLR Regular Meeting July 12, 2012

WEYAUWEGA LAKE RESTORATION, INC


WEYAUWEGA Public Library, WEYAUWEGA

http://sites.google.com/site/lakeweyauwega/Home

http://lakeweyauwegaproject.blogspot.com/

www.weyauwegalakehsstudy.wordpress.com

Thursday, July12, 2012 6:00 PM

Attending:

Connie Abert (UW Extension)
Joel Bohringer
Jeremy Classy (NAH)
Bob DeGodt
Mary Fischer
Kent Gerard (WLR Board)
Chris Gunderson
Nick Gunderson
Jay Heckler
Ted Johnson (DNR)
Mary Livens
Angie Landsverk (Press)
Kathy Lodes
Tom Lodes
Holly Martin (WLR Board)
Don Morgan (Mayor)
Doug Nelsen (Nelsen Environmental)
Marv Nollenberg
Tyler Nollenberg
Linda O’Day
Tom O’Day
Kathy Peterson
Jim Prickette
Howard Quimby (WLR Board)
Myron Radtke
Tony Resch
Sylvia Robison
Wilber Robison
Ray Schalkowski
Tom Schnider
Dan Stearns
Kaycie Stushek (Golden Sands RC&D)
Jim Tolfa (WLR Board
T. J. Tooley
M. Kristine Treder
Bob Van Epps (WLR Board)
Joy Van Epps
Rick Waite
Dave Werth (WLR Board)
Ron Wiesman (WLR Board)
Bill Zemple (WLR Board)
Caroline Zemple (WLR Board

1. Call to order

2. Approval of June Minutes: Motion Wiesman second Gerard - Approved.

3. Financial Report: Wiesman

M&I Opening Bal 6-13-2012 8,650.26

deposit: 1,040.00

expenses (9,003.76)

4. M&I Closing Bal 7-12-2012 686.50

First National Bank 29694.88

Motion Werth second Zemple approved

REPORTS

DNR Report: Ted Johnson - Draw down has gone well. The bottom was mostly muck and anaerobic conditions did not allow muck to be digested, this has been improved. Pre drawdown markers for lake bed were taken via GPS. They will be taken again to determine new level of the lake bottom, and success of the project. Plant samples were taken with 3 identified. This is expected to improve when the pond refills. Flowering Rush has two states: Sub-mergent and Emergent. Ted Johnson feels even though it is taking over the lake bed, this is not a big problem and recommends a wait and see position.

Trip downstream(below the dam): River systems below an impoundment are starved for nutrients and have a tendency to broaden and become shallow. The drawdown has corrected this with the new river channel being narrower and deeper with the water moving faster. This has caused major silt deposits along shorelines and the choking off of backwater areas, this is to be expected and is a sign of health. We did not lose any fish due to the drawdown, and the river bed is back to a normal narrower state.
Public comment: We have lots of muck build up that is seen as damage to property.

Question: Is there a benefit to leave it down another winter? All the sediment has gone down but all in all not much benefit. A cold winter will affect Asian milfoil by freezing them out – this is a positive gain.

Golden Sands: Kaycie Stushek: She works on aquatic invasive species. They do surveys of invasive species by identifying and mapping colonies. Technical assistance and training is also provided by Golden Sands. They are also willing to do workshops on: “How to monitor invasive species”, “How to remove invasive species” and “Clean Boats, Clean Water” program. Unfortunately there is no way to remove Zebra Mussels. Zebra Mussels are again under study for impact on the environment.

A slide show of pictures of the drawdown were presented.

NAH: Jeremy Classy: New ownership was announced. NAH has split into two companies, we will still be dealing with the same people as before. The drawdown was planned and orchestrated by a number of agencies including but not limited to: FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) and the DNR. Our Permit is up the 23ed of September, to extend the time the lake is down will need to be approved by the participating agencies and the public..

Question: are there Minimum and Max flow rates. Answer: Not sure exactly what they are but there are levels that must be adhered to.

City of Weyauwega: Don Morgan. All permits are in to the DNR. Two boat landing repairs and extensions, shoreline riprap.
DISCUSSION ON ISSUE OF DRAWDOWN EXTENSION

a. Should the lake be kept down until May 1st.

Comments by the board – Each board member gave their reasons for supporting or not supporting extending the drawdown until May 1 (The first day the DNR will allow the lake to be brought back up due to the turtles) All board members were in favor of the extension with the exception of Martin.

Ted Johnson. You will always have to manage plants, the drawdown will not eliminate this issue.

Howard Quimby: Can we do a controlled burn this fall to remove the dead weed debris and prevent it from insulating the unwanted seeds improving the winter freeze benefit? Answer Ted Johnson (DNR) This is a good idea, not now but in the fall. He will look into it and let us know how best to proceed.

Public Input:

Mary Livens: The River is so full of sediment Fish are dying and the turtles are gone.

Jay Heckler: Deep muck! It is so deep he almost lost his dog. He brought pictures.

Kathy Lodes : Wanted to be empowered. Has voiced her concerned wants lake back up

Tom O,Day: Not happy with river frontage – Tons of muck. Wants people made whole. Comment by Ted Johnson in response – He will look into what needs to be done to remove the massive amount of muck at this junction of the river. There may be some remediation the DNR can offer.

Joel Bohringer: wants to keep it down for the additional 9 months.

Tom ODay: Can we go back to “peeking” running of the Dam to scour the river bed clean of muck. Jeremy Classy comment: The federal policy is “Run of the River” and that is not likely to change.
Vote taken by Show of hands

Leave it down till May 1st - 23

Leave it down till September - 4
The Lake will remain down until May 1st if the FERC and DNR agree.

5. Next meeting August 9th Library 6:00 PM

6. Adjourn Meeting : C Zemple