Memorial Day - The Reason for the Season...

Take a moment as we enjoy perfect Koshkonong weather!!

Heat wave expected to be short-lived

From Janesville Gazette 5.25.10
_______________________________________________

Sunday’s high of 91 broke 1929 record

The good news is the unseasonable heat wave will be short, and a pleasant holiday weekend is expected, said meteorologist Mark Gehring of the National Weather Service.


Janesville’s high of 91 degrees on Sunday was a record, according to Gazette weather records dating to 1929.

Boater Safety Class

The Rock River Safety Patrol is conducting a Boater Safety class at the Fulton Town Hall, 2738 West Fulton Center Drive (at the intersection of Cty M & Hwy 51) Edgerton, Wi.

All persons born after 1988 are required to complete a boating safety course to legally operate a motorized boat or personal watercraft (PWC). Anyone is eligible to take a boating safety class and receive a safety education completion certificate, although the certificate is not valid for a child until he or she is 12 years old.

In addition to it being the law, taking a boating safety class can save your life: 4 of 5 people who die in boating accidents on Wisconsin 's waters every year haven't had such formal training. Gain the safe boating techniques and knowledge that can keep you safe on the water.

More info can be found at: http://dnr.wi.gov/org/es/enforcement/safety/boatsaf.htm

The class will be held on Saturdays in June (5th, 12th, 19th, 26th) at 9:00am.

Prior to class, you must obtain a DNR Identification number.

Call 1-888-936-7463 to obtain your unique number, and then call 608-868-3660 to register for class.

This class will fill fast. If you have special needs, please call asap with any accommodations needed.

Three Floating Islands Launched in Lake - CA

Koshkonong at 777.96 today

Still ONE FOOT over where RKLD is requesting - and 18 inches over where DNR orders tell the lake to be...

778.19 TODAY

Lake has crested - and we are 2 feet OVER DNR summer water level orders.

Lake Koshkonong & the Appellate Court

Oct 24, 2008 -
That is the date RKLD filed our petition - nearly 19 months ago

DNR Removes 92 year old Stebbinsville Dam

Improvements to lake discussed

From the Daily Jefferson County Union

"Lake Koshkonong is a wide spot in the Rock River," Montgomery noted. "It is not a flood-control reservoir. It is a recipient of this big watershed coming down to it from the Rock River."

From an engineering standpoint, water flow and quality from the Rock River and its larger tributaries are an independent variable, he said.
"There is not much we, on the lake, can do about that; we are the recipients of that flow," Montgomery said.

However, the watersheds that are immediate tributaries of the lake - that have an area of only a couple square miles - drain into wetland areas or small creeks.

He said part of the plan might consider things that would enhance water quality and wildlife, and in some way benefit the ecology right on the lake.
"The rest of the story, frankly, is that we're working with the cards we've been dealt," Montgomery said.

As far as water levels, he said the Indianford Dam really only comes into play during low-flow times. During higher-flow or flood stages, Montgomery said, the dam is essentially a bump in the bottom of the river.

Grant money to help 2008 flood victims

Rock County is set to receive grants for well testing on properties affected by the 2008 floods.

For most, the one hundred year flood is a memory. But some property owners in Rock County could still be suffering the effects of contaminated well water. The State Department of Health Services is providing $40,800 for the well water test kits, testing samples from 400 wells, and on-site consultations for 50 owners of unsafe wells.

The Rock County Board is scheduled to accept the grant Thursday.

Is condemnation the best option?

From Janesville Gazette

MILTON TOWNSHIP — When the water at Clear Lake surged after unprecedented area floods in 2008, it put three houses on the east edge of Clear Lake underwater.

The waters still haven’t receded.

For nearly two years, the water table at the lake north of Milton has continued to climb, almost inexplicably, in turn causing Clear Lake to rise 8 feet above normal levels.

Lake input sought at workshop

From the Daily Jefferson County Union -


The public is invited to an informational meeting and workshop concerning improvements to Lake Koshkonong on Thursday, May 13.

The session will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. at Fort Atkinson High School.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers based at Rock Island, Ill., in partnership with the Rock-Koshkonong Lake District and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, is beginning a comprehensive planning process for Lake Koshkonong. The objective is the long-term enhancement of Lake Koshkonong, including improved recreational opportunities, enhancement of wildlife and fishery resources, wetland protection, improvement of waterfowl habitat, and improved navigation access to the lake, bordered by Jefferson, Dane and Rock counties.

The project is being implemented under the Corps of Engineers' Planning Assistance to States Program. The Rock-Koshkonong Lake District's participation is supported by the legislative grant recently awarded for planning improvements on Lake Koshkonong.

This marks the first of three workshops to be held during the project so the public may present their ideas for improving Lake Koshkonong.

This meeting's agenda includes a description of the planning process, a brief summary of environmental data on Lake Koshkonong and the Rock River within the Rock-Koshkonong Lake District, breakout sessions to provide participants the opportunity to express their ideas on Lake improvements, and a summary of ideas generated, and discussion of how the planning will continue.

As project concepts are developed, two additional public meetings/workshops will be held.

Those unable to attend the first meeting are invited to visit the Rock-Koshkonong Lake District website www.rkld.org to view ideas presented at the workshop and post their ideas. The public also may contact the following:
Steve Russell, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, (309) 794-5847;
Brian Christianson, Rock-Koshkonong Lake District, (608) 884-9444,
Pam Biersach, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, (608) 275-3282.

SNW Lifted TODAY

Memo

To: Sheriff Bob Spoden, Rock County Sheriff’s Dept.
CC: Ed Marshall, Town of Janesville
Tom Presny, Parks Director, City of Janesville
Lori Williams, Rock County Parks Director

From: Evan Sayre, Town of Fulton Chairman

Date: May 12, 2010

Re: Slow No Wake

The high water that we were experiencing has receded to a level we feel allows for the normal operation of water craft in our township. Therefore, we are requesting that the slow no wake restriction be lifted as of Thursday, May 13th, 2010.

If you have any questions, feel free to call the Town Office at 608-868-4103.

Thank you!

Kickoff public informational meeting on the Lake Koshkonong project

Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 7 PM till 9 PM at the Fort Atkinson High School

The US Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with the Rock Koshkonong Lake District and the Wisconsin DNR, is beginning a comprehensive planning process for Lake Koshkonong. The objective of this plan will be the long-term enhancement of Lake Koshkonong, including improved recreational opportunities, enhancement of wildlife and fishery resources, wetland protection and improvement of waterfowl habitat, and improved navigation access to the Lake. This project is being undertaken under the Corps of Engineers Planning Assistance to States program. The Rock Koshkonong Lake District's participation is supported by the legislative grant that was recently awarded to the District for planning for improvements on Lake Koshkonong.

This is the first public meetings that will be held during the project is to provide an opportunity for all interested citizens to present their ideas for improving Lake Koshkonong. The agenda will be:

• A description of the planning process

• Brief summary of environmental data on Lake Koshkonong and the Rock River within the District

• Breakout sessions so that everyone can have a chance to express their ideas on Lake improvements

• Summary of ideas generated, and discussion of how the planning will continue.

Two additional public workshops are planned for later in the year, as project concepts are developed. If you are unable to attend this first meeting, you're invited to visit the Rock Koshkonong Lake District website ( www.rkld.org ) to view ideas presented at the workshop meeting, and also to post your own ideas. You are also welcome to contact the following:

Steve Russell, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District: (309) 794-5847

Brian Christianson, Rock Koshkonong Lake District: (608) 884-9444

Pam Biersach, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: (608) 275-3282

Please plan on attending the workshop in Ft. Atkinson!

As If anyone is abiding the Slow No Wake order anyway...

STILL Slow NO WAKE in Milton and Fulton Twshps

Today = 777.68

Town of Janesville and City of Janesville removed their SNW orders 10 days ago.

Good Morning

Janesville lifts slow/no wake rule

Janesville Gazette

Fulton is still under SLOW/NO WAKE orders.

I was asked to post this....

Many years ago, I was sitting with Jim at Lakeview. It was a quiet, late afternoon in the bar and he and I were in deep conversation about everything and anything having to do with Lake Koshkonong.


Jim was chairman and founder of our lake district and he had taken me under his wing. He had persuaded me to run for the RKLD Board, and then proceeded to work his way around the lake, convincing so many people I had never met to vote for me. He was successful and I owed it to Jim to learn all I could about state statutes, administrative rules, environmental impact studies and hydrology reports – everything and anything having to do with Lake Koshkonong.


Understand that Jim read everything. Everything. Nothing was too legal. Nothing was too technical. He conceded nothing to the lawyers or the PhDs working on our behalf, and he conceded even less to those who opposed his passion to improve Koshkonong for the next generation. Everything and anything having to do with Lake Koshkonong - Jim had it all filed away under the crew cut.


Jim’s intelligence and his street smarts made for a powerful combination that I deeply admired. He never shot from the hip; he always knew the science and the history better than everyone else in the room. Always.


But it was at Lakeview that late afternoon where things changed. Dorothy was behind the bar listening to our favorite topic of conversation - everything and anything having to do with Lake Koshkonong. “Is that all you two ever talk about?”


I looked up and out over the lake and said sometimes I am on the water, alone, without a ripple, without the slightest breeze, without another boat in site, and I feel like I own the lake, like I am responsible for the next generation to enjoy its beauty.


Jim gripped my shoulder, and said, “Now you get it. And now I can retire.”


In one year, Jim elected me to the board, and then elected me his successor as chairman.


Everything and anything having to do with Lake Koshkonong – I miss him deeply.