Lakes Advisory Committee Meeting

Lakes Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Wednesday, May 29, 2024 – 4:00 pm Cravath Lakefront Room 312 W. Whitewater Street Whitewater, WI 53190 Hybrid Meeting 1. Call to Order and Roll Call Present: Carol McCormick, Kurt Zipp, Elvira Kau, and Gayle Stettler, and Ginny Coburn. Absent: Geoff Hale Staff: Michelle Dujardin Guest Speakers: Justin Poinsatte, Danielle Matuszak, and Hanna Helker 2. Hearing of Citizen Comments No Citizens Comment 3. Considerations/Discussions/Reports a. Discussion and possible action regarding presentation from Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission i. Presentation of current timeline, scope of work and discussion given by Justin Poinsatte and Danielle Matuszak. Presentation Notes: Plan: Short-Term  Aquatic plant survey of Cravath and Tripp lakes ( Scheduled for week of July 15th, 2024) o This survey would inform an updated aquatic plant management plan for the lake  Shoreline survey ( Scheduled for week of July 15th, 2024) o Complete survey of both lakes’ shorelines using WDNR protocol o Conducting in 2024 would help document current problems with cattail encroachment  Conducting in 2025 or beyond may better document “typical” conditions if cattails begin to die off  Fisheries o Request information from WDNR fisheries biologist regarding next fishery survey for lakes (already completed)  Water quality monitoring in 2024 o Cravath and Tripp lakes ( UW-Whitewater Professor Dale Splinter will work with SEWRPC starting in June to collect data)   Water clarity (secchi disk), temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, chloride, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a o Bluff Creek, Spring Brook, Whitewater Creek upstream, and Whitewater Creek downstream (UW-Whitewater and SEWRPC)  Water clarity (transparency tube), temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, total phosphorus, and total suspended solids o Note: we (SEWRPC) have automated water temperature and specific conductance loggers that could be installed into the lakes and creeks ( Scheduled to be in place June or July 2024)  Recreational use o Incidental monitoring while completing other surveys on lake – no intensive survey efforts Plan: Long-Term  Aquatic plant management plan o Informed by aquatic plant survey o Would enable City/District to apply for aquatic plant management permits as a single entity rather than individual homeowners  Fisheries o Enhance warmwater sport fishery (bass, crappie, perch, etc.) o Develop long-term plan to help reduce carp population  Water quality o Could request funds to analyze water quality constituents not covered in 2024 monitoring or to continue 2024 monitoring efforts o Incorporate 2024 and beyond data with historical data to examine conditions and trends in lakes, tributaries, and Whitewater Creek downstream  Shorelines o Ensure that City/District has permit to address shoreline restoration problems instead of individual homeoners  Stormwater management o Incorporate major elements and actions from 2017 stormwater management plan o Investigate potential impact of stormwater pollutants on lake water quality as part of pollutant load modeling  Recreational use o Install signs with QR codes asking lake users about how they recreate, fish that they catch, etc. o Ensure that water quality goals for fishable and swimmable lakes are met  Tie in with plans to increase recreational activities on lakes through handicap access for fishing, trails, swimming hole in Tripp  Lake and watershed characterization o Lake size, bathymetry, and brief review of dam infrastructure and operations  Using available information – no new surveys of dam o Characterize land use, civil divisions, households and urban growth, wetlands, etc. within watershed  o These elements inform the pollutant load modeling as well as other aspects of plan development, e.g. recommending areas where wetland enhancement can trap nutrients  Pollutant loading o Conduct watershed pollutant load modeling (e.g., STEPL model) to examine major pollutant sources and source areas o Recommend practices and programs to help reduce pollutant loading  Agricultural practices, wetland enhancements, stormwater management, lawn and shoreline care, etc.  Grants and Funding Opportunities We will recommend grants, programs, and other funding opportunities to help implement the practices and programs that we recommend within the plan. These will include grants that the City, District, and individual homeowners are eligible applicants for  SEWRPC will be drafting scope of second phase along with budget to submit for review 4. Considerations/Discussions/Reports a. Discussion and possible action regarding bids for mechanical dredging of Cravath and Trippe Lake Cattail. The City Clerk opened bids on May 9, 2024 at 3:00 pm for 37,020 square feet (1,927 cubic yards) of mechanical dredging of Cravath Lake and 2,334 square feet (130 cubic yards) of mechanical dredging of Trippe Lake. At that time the following bid were received:  Cravath and Trippe Lake Dredging Bid from Eco Waterway Services, $167,630.00  Cravath and Trippe Lake Dredging Big from RLP Diversified, Inc, $160,000.00 The City of Whitewater holds a dredge permit with the State of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Permit #IP-SE-2021-65-03182. Set to expire 11/04/2026. The bid notice went out on April 22, 2024. Bid notice was published for two weeks in the Whitewater Register. Monies for the project is budgeted in the 2024 & 2025 Engineering line for Lakes Capital Budget. Kurt Zipp noted the success of the Swamp Devil Cattail Shredding on his property in 2023. Zipp noted he made contact with the owner of the company to inquire on possible return to both lakes to help water quality. Motioned by Ginny Coburn to award RLP Diversified the bid contract $160,000.00 for Cravath and Trippe Lake Dredging of cattail with recommendation to Common Council, Seconded by Elvira Kau . Discussion: Stettler questioned the working relationship with Eco Waterway Services in 2023. Dujardin replied with great working relationship.  McCormick stated a great working relationship with Eco Waterway Services on her personal property project Zipp commented the benefit of having a previous working relationship Ayes: None. No’s: Carol McCormick, Elvira Kau, Kurt Zipp, Ginny Coburn, and Gayle Stettler. Absent: Geoff Hale. Motion Failed Motioned by Ginny Coburn to reward Eco Waterway Services the bid of $167,630.00 for Cravath and Trippe Lake Dredging of Cattail as noted in the bid packet. Seconded by Elvira Kau. Ayes: Carol McCormick, Elvia Kau, and Ginny Coburn. Abstain: Kurt Zipp and Gayle Stettler. Noes: None. Absent: Geoff Hale. Motion Passed 5. Future Agenda Items a. Storm Water Information Requested by Kurt Zipp b. Lake District Creation Discussion c. Lake District Marketing Campaign 6. Adjournment d. Motioned by Kau to adjourn, seconded by McCormick. Unanimous voice vote. Adjournment at 5:35pm. Respectfully Submitted, Michelle Dujardin