The ice went off the lake on March 15th this year and the first quarter of 2021 has ended. It's time to get outside and get ready to enjoy the warm summer weather. Some piers are already in and a few boats have launched.
Have you been wondering what the LDLD Board of Commissioners have been up to since the membership meeting last August? Here's a look back at the highlights of 2020 and a look forward to 2021.
Sonar Weed Control Project
The $51,000 project was approved in 2018 to target Eurasian Water Milfoil and Curly Leaf Pondweed. The whole lake treatments were done in 2019 & 2020 using SonarOne herbicide by Marine Biochemists. The final Aquatic Plant Survey was completed in August 2020 and the results indicate the project was highly successful. The full report is available on the LDLD website. We will be monitoring for EWM and CLP and are prepared to apply for a spot treatment permit with the DNR as necessary.
Slow No Wake & High Water Levels
If lake levels rise and the water is up to or over many piers and shorelines, damage can result. If necessary, the LDLD board has the authority to issue a “Slow No Wake” designation for Lake Denoon. According to the US Coast Guard, “Slow No Wake" means moving at the slowest speed possible while still maintaining steerage. To many of us, it means going slow, typically idle speed, and not creating a wake.
Should this situation occur, the LDLD board will:
Post the notification on the website
Notify the Muskego Police Department
Use the LDLD email group to distribute the information to members
Post signs at the Lake Denoon Park and Hart Drive boat launches.
Clean Boats Clean Waters (CBCW)
In 2020, the LDLD board applied for and received approval for a 75% matching grant of up to $8,000 from the State of Wisconsin to staff the two boat launches and monitor boats for aquatic invasive species (AIS). The approved 2021 budget includes the matching funds for the CBCW program to monitor the Denoon Park boat launch and educate / help visiting boaters regarding proper boat/trailer practices to avoid spreading AIS. We anticipate a crew schedule of 16 hours per week at up to $20/hour. The board is looking for volunteers to plan, organize and implement the program. Additional information on this DNR program can be found on the LDLD and DNR websites. If interested, please send an email to cbcw@ldld.org.
Alum Project Study 2021
In December 2017, the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC) provided us with a comprehensive lake management plan for Lake Denoon. This plan has become a guide and framework of the LDLD. As many of us noticed in 2020, the algae was the worst we've seen in years. The amount of phosphorus already in the lake is the major contributor to algae. As suggested by the SEWRPC plan, the LDLD has 2 primary options:
Build a treatment plant to remove phosphorus
Treatment with Alum (aluminum sulphate) that binds phosphorus
The LDLD board has met with Dr. John Holtz Ph.D. of HAB Aquatics to discuss an Alum treatment. The board has agreed to conduct an Alum dosing study in 2021 and to write a grant proposal to support the treatment plan. The 2021 budget includes $12,000 for the Alum study. For more information, see the SEWRPC report on the website under "Resources". To learn more about Alum, HAB Aquatics is hosting an online webinar on April 28th which is free but requires registration. Click here to register.
Denoon Road Culvert
The culvert under Denoon road on the south side of the lake is the major outlet from the lake and is extremely important in times of high water levels. If this culvert becomes clogged or blocked by debris, it will take longer to achieve lower lake levels. The Town of Norway is responsible for culvert maintenance but is under-resourced and doesn't always respond timely to our requests. . The LDLD Board is seeking volunteers who live on Denoon Road to help manually clean debris. In addition, if the water flow through your property is blocked, anything you can do to improve the situation is greatly appreciated by all of us.
Have a question, comment or are interested in volunteering?
Contact the LDLD Board of Commissioners at commissioners@ldld.org
For more information on these and other LDLD topics, visit www.LDLD.org website. Be sure to register on the Members page to get emailed updates on all new posts.
Comments