County Executive Falk Announces $98,709 in Grants to Protect Lakes and Streams

October 23, 2005
Lesley Sillaman, Office of the County Executive (608) 267-8823 or cell (608) 669-5606

Madison – Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk today joined members of the Friends of Monona Bay - a citizen watershed group who voluntarily work to keep Lake Monona clean and safe - to announce nearly $100,000 in grants from the state’s Department of Natural Resources for programs that will protect our beautiful lakes and streams. Today’s announcement is another in a series of efforts to improve the health of our lakes, including the County’s phosphate ban, the first countywide stormwater ordinance in Wisconsin, “Green Tier” agreement, stormsewer refitting and proposed manure management rules. “Citizens tell us our lakes are their top priority. These grants will help us better protect these amazing resources,” said Falk. "Water quality is a real issue for Monona Bay. Thousand of people depend on decent water quality for fishing, water skiing, swimming and boating in the Bay. Yet, the water quality issues in Monona Bay are complex,” said Annette Czarnecki of Friends of Monona Bay. “The Bay is cleaner today than it was 100 years ago when we were dumping raw sewage into our lakes. But now we are contending with a huge amount of urban stormwater runoff, invasive weeds, and algae. The DNR Lake Planning Grant helps us move toward a comprehensive watershed management plan for the Bay, and ultimately better water quality and better recreation for all." The grants include: · $10,000 for a study of the water habitat of Monona Bay, including the history and complexities of the lake due to boating, fishing, skiing and swimming as well as lake management practices such as dredging, dealing with invasive weeds and shoreline modifications. The study will include the design of a public outreach program to improve Monona Bay and its watershed. · $58,709 for a study of the potential impacts of zebra mussels on Lakes Mendota and Monona. Establishment of zebra mussels in Dane County lakes could be rapid and could dramatically hurt the ecosystem of lakes and impact piers, dams and boats around the lake. Their shells’ sharp edges can also render shorelines unusable for swimming. · Three grants, totaling $30,000 for plans for weed management plans. This will include studying the both mechanical weed harvesting methods, as well as evaluating the use of herbicides to manage weeds in some area lakes. The planning will include public input sessions, mapping and reporting to be completed in time for the 2007 harvesting season. Plans will be prepared for Lakes Mendota, Kegonsa, Crystal, Fish, Indian, Lower Mud and Wingra. The DNR has appropriated the money and has verbally notified Dane County of the grants. Once the County receives written notice, the money will be formally accepted by the County Board and signed by the County Executive. # # #