By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
Efforts to study possible eco-restorative efforts on Tichigan Lake and the Fox River in Waterford are gaining momentum.
Commissioner John Bostrom, who is serving as team leader of an eco-restorative initiative of the Waterford Waterway Management District (WMMD), provided an update at the group’s July 26 meeting.
In June, a $65,600 grant from the Southeastern Wisconsin Fox River Commission was received. It is helping fund the second phase of a study that entails soil sample collection, tests and compiling results and reports. WWMD is paying the remaining 10 percent, or $6,560.
Phase One of the eco-restorative efforts, which also entail testing, is underway as well. Bostrom said both phases are on track for completion in late September.
WWMD officials have already begun discussions on the third phase of the project. Tentatively, the committee is requesting WWMD set aside $75,000 in its 2013 budget for follow-up work, which will include obtaining a dredging permit and conducting a bidding process.
Based on discussions with the state DNR, Bostrom said dredging work should cost between $45,000 and $75,000 – the exact amount to be known once data from the sedimentary tests is revealed.
Bostrom said test report results will also determine a number of logistics, including specific dredge and discharge methods that will be used, the number of test sites needed and overall site management plans.
Since the WWMD commission collectively gave approval June 28 to proceed with the second phase of the work, an engineering firm, Graef, has been brought in to conduct sediment testing that has been shipped to labs for further analysis.
The sedimentary samples will be used to test data in a number of areas, including the amount of organic carbon.
At least 56 samples are being collected – the number required by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
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