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Saving Delavan Lake: Dredging project a key to success

Photo

Delavan Lake watershed.

Editor's note: Delavan Lake was not always the pristine gem and economic engine that it is today. This four part series, first published in Walworth County Sunday examines efforts to keep this natural treasure healthy.

DELAVAN LAKE -- Work will begin within the next couple of weeks on dredging a 3,000-foot section of the Delavan Lake Inlet, a 210-acre wetland that filters topsoil, fertilizer and sediment from the water that flows into the lake.

[Read the full story in the June 26, 2011 e-edition of Walworth County Sunday, HERE.]

The inlet drains about half of the watershed. Jackson Creek, a tributary of Turtle Creek, feeds and drains Delavan Lake.

The dredging project's goal is to remove 45,000 cubic yards of sediment and pump it to an area behind Town of Delavan Fire Station No. 1 and de-water the sediment. The filtered water will be returned to the lake.

JND Thomas, a California company, earned the contract for the $1.46 million project.

"The greatest challenge for us was getting an acceptable bid, and within our budget," said town of Delavan Administrator John Olson. We opened the bidding in February 2010 and received four bids, the highest being $3.29 million and the lowest the $1.46 million, which is quite a range. Surprisingly, the last one was the lowest, and generally you see an increase in cost over time."

Olson said not everyone agreed with the idea, but the project needed to be done.

"At least most people were aware that we saw a need for this project," Olson said. "We held two public information meetings last year, and the board did a good job of getting the word out. It involved a lengthy permitting process, but fortunately we got an acceptable bid and can move forward."

It is the third restoration project in the past several years. The removal of about 3,000 cubic yards of sediment from Brown Channel was completed in winter 2006, while the dredging and deepening of the Mound Road sedimentation ponds, part of a 140-acre wetland and constructed in 1992, was finished in 2009.

These projects are just the latest in a long list of efforts during a rollercoaster ride of a history in dealing with the lake and watershed.

Read:

• June 26, 2011: A call to action to save Delavan Lake

• June 27, 2011: Network promotes health of Delavan Lake

• June 28, 2011: Delavan Lake dredging project key to success

• June 29, 2011: A history of Delavan Lake restoration

[Read the full story in the June 26, 2011 e-edition of Walworth County Sunday, HERE.]