More on SNW

2 issues; the River rises faster than it recedes. At 777.5 the River is SNW 30% more frequently than at 778.5 (I will post a chart we gave to PS&J Committee members)

Second issue is the arbitrary number 777.5 - their is no science, photos etc that suggest any property is inundated at that level. State statutes have very defined reasons why SNW is ordered and at 777.5 none of those reasons come into play. 

So I am hoping RKLD taxpayers offer their testimony and even suggest a compromise between 777.5 and what was supposed to be an example of a legit, measurable SNW trigger - ACTION STAGE as defined by not RKLD but rather USGS (779.0). 

Action stage is not flood stage. Action stage means take action - such as pulling piers, boat lifts, ordering SNW, etc. 

Raising water on lake is reasonable request

(LTE to Janesville Gazette 12.16.11)

I have a site at Lakeland Camping Resort in Milton, which is on Lake Koshkonong. I have been there 17 years. I had a pontoon boat for 13 years that I rented a pier space each summer over at Charley Bluff. 

It got to be pretty bad when I had to walk the boat out in the lake for a lengthy distance before I could lower the propeller enough to get under way, not to mention all the propellers I had to change. 

It is a big, beautiful lake, and a lot of fun can be had if you do not have to worry about hitting something or the bottom with the propeller out of the water. 

The state and counties receive lots of related revenue, and local businesses around the lake and Rock River take in profits each season. 

I support The Rock-Koshkonong Lake District and believe that the lake level should be kept at the district’s proposed level. 

THOMAS H. STRAINER

 Des Plaines, Ill.

SLOW NO WAKE ON ROCK RIVER

SLOW NO WAKE ON ROCK RIVER

I attended both Rock County Board meetings on the SNW ordinance for Rock River, all the people that spoke were treated with respect and their opinions were well received.  The maps and graphs provided by both Rock County and the Rock-Koshkonong Lake District were professional and well explained.

    As what level the SNW should be removed on the Rock River is the issue. The lowest level of 7.5’ which at times has been used in the past had no data to back up the claim that it’s the right level to remove the SNW. The RKLD paid for professional studies and collected data to get a realistic level to aid Rock County in their decision, the studies and data showed the level of 9.0’ would work with only a minimum impact on very low laying areas. Some people felt that level was too high.

    I would like to thank Supervisor Dave Brown for suggesting a compromise of 8.0’-8.4’ which is the middle level, most of people in attendance and the RKLD agreed a compromise could work.

    I am a property owner on Rock River, and enjoy boating on the river in our pontoon, canoe and kayak. Let the public enjoy their boating experience with a SNW ordinance that works for everyone. 

                                                                                               John M Green

                                                                                         10357 N. Ellendale Rd.

                                                                                        Edgerton, WI.53534

Rock River Trail Initiative: An Update for November 2011

The next meeting will be February 3, 2012, also in Beloit, WI.

In early November the common councils of Beloit, Janesville and Mayville adopted resolutions of support for the trail initiative.  With this action we now have documents of support from the five Wisconsin counties through which the Rock River flows (Fond du Lac, Dodge, Jefferson, Dane and Rock), all 13 cities and villages along the river in Wisconsin, the lake management districts for Lake Sinissippi and Lake Koshkonong and key community, conservation and tourism organizations.  We believe this is quite a significant milestone that echoes the commonality we all share with the wonderful natural resource that flows through our river communities.

In Illinois the Rockford City Council passed a resolution of support for the trail initiative on November 21^st.   Further downstream, efforts are underway for an informational meeting on the trail initiative in Sterling, IL on December 9^th with key civic and community leaders of Lee, Whiteside and Henry counties.  We see exciting areas of cooperation with Friends of the Hennepin Canal and look forward to meeting them and representatives of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in Sterling.  And, we are working with Sally Heffernan of the City of Rock Island and the River Action folks to organize an informational meeting in Rock Island in January.  We look forward to the participation and contributions of the fine people and organizations of these beautiful Rock River communities.

The Wisconsin Department of Tourism awarded a grant to the Jefferson County Economic Development Consortium for brand identity, marketing and promotion of an enhanced tourism program.  The award cited two new initiatives for the county that are expected to play a key role in the development effort.  One of the new initiatives is the Rock River Trail Initiative. 

Two public information meetings have been held in Wisconsin to receive input on the proposed recreation water trail and scenic and historic river route.  A third public meeting will be held in Rock County probably in December.

Work continues on planning the Rock River Water Trail.  We have information from Illinois and Wisconsin Departments of Natural Resources, the National Park Service, Openlands of Northeastern Illinois and other sources to assist in developing the water trail plan and map.   We will inventory existing water trail facilities, including access points, boat launches, dams, camping sites and parks, along the entire river course.  We will also work with county, municipal and community organizations to conduct a gap analysis of the water trail, identifying possible needs for future development of trail facilities. 

Certain sections of the proposed Scenic and Historic Rock River Route are established, while designation of roads in other sections is in process.  A number of the highways selected for the river route use existing bike routes and are lovely to travel, whether in a car or on a bike!  There is a balance to achieve between a desire to showcase the scenic beauty of the river with its enticing twists and turns through pastoral farmland and natural terrain and the need to designate a road route that is relatively straightforward to sign mark and navigate and not too challenging to the weekend traveler.  We also are designing the route so far as is practicable to pass through our river communities and provide the road traveler an experience with the cultural heritage, local flavor and ambiance of each community.

Residents concerned about Turtle Lake’s future

From the Janesville Gazette

...That was until this year when Roman said the channel outside his lakefront home lost nearly a foot of water. Now, several residents are looking for answers, fearful the lake’s receding shoreline will threaten recreation and property values if nobody takes action.

Note to Board re: SNW Orders

My name is Kenneth Brey.  I am a full-time resident in Mount Prospect, IL, a suburb of Chicago.  Along with my parents and family presently own two river-front properties on the lower Rock River, one at 539 E. Applewood and one at 10427 N Ellendale Rd, Edgerton.

 

I have been a regular summer weekender of the Rock area since 2004.  I own a recreational motor-boat which is registered in Wisconsin and primarily moored and operated on the Rock.  I enjoy cruising the river and lake, waterskiing, and relaxing by the river’s shore. 

 

My family and I have made significant investments in Rock County through acquiring and maintaining property, paying property taxes, and rebuilding after the 2008 flood.  We have invested in improving the Rock River water quality through the new public sewer system along Applewood installed in 2010.

 

I am a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Illinois.

 

Since 2004 I have been interested in the No-Wake policy along the Rock River because of its impact of my enjoyment of water-skiing.  During an imposed no-wake period it takes about 1 hour to travel upstream from Applewood to a point on Lake Koshkonong which is greater than 200 yards from any shore and where high-speed boating is permitted.  This is equal to 50% of my travel time from Chicago to Edgerton, and is not insignificant.  Also, on all but the most calm of days, the water skiing conditions are actually better on the lower Rock river than they are on Lake Koshkonong as wind gusts as low as 10 MPH can stir serious waves on the lake, whereas only the strongest of winds make significant waves on river.  I greatly appreciate the ability to ski right in front of my dock while making responsible and safe use of the state’s natural resources, and that is why I have been coming here for the last 7 years and plan to continue.

 

I recognize that this river system floods, and that the imposition of no-wake restrictions during times of extreme high water are necessary for boater safety and to prevent incremental erosion damage that would be caused.  I have read the complete hydrology reports provided by the Lake District and have done my own analysis of some of the USGS gauge height and flow data.  I consider that I have a good idea of how this drainage basin and river system works.  My opinion is that the Lake District and Brian Christianson also understand very well how it works. 

This year, on May 27^th, 2011, the Town of Fulton lifted a no-wake restriction after a typical spring flood that had reached 10.07 ft at the USGS Newville gauge.  The daily average water stage on May 27^th was 7.83 ft.  After a busy holiday weekend of boating on the river at a height of 7.8 feet, there were no reports or complaints of shore erosion caused by boating.  That is because the river was well within its banks, and there would not have been any damage had the level been as high as 8.5 feet. 

 

The ordinance before you today seeks to limit this beneficial and constitutionally guaranteed use of our fine natural resources for no justifiable reason by imposing a no-wake restriction at 7.5 ft. 

 

The Town of Fulton has controlled No-Wake imposition through dubious authority delegated by Rock County.  It has a stated policy which it has never followed consistently.  In 2010, the town clerk explained to me in writing that the policy is to remove no-wake when “levels reach around 7-7 1/2 feet”.  This policy was not followed in this case, and should never be followed. 

 

Our river does not rise and fall between binary levels.  It has the potential to stay at any level for long periods of time based on the flow rate into the lake through the upper Rock River.  A nebulous policy such as was stated by the town clerk cannot be relied upon. 

 

I applaud the movement to establish a firm rule which can be consistently enforced and which provides a safe boating environment and protects the shoreline from boat-wake erosion.  However, this rule should be based on science and engineering.  I believe the level in your proposed ordinance, 7.5 ft, is not based on sound engineering and artificially restricts boating for the benefit of people who do not like boats.  I urge you to amend and pass the proposed ordinance with a trigger at 8.5 ft, or to reject the proposed ordinance.