Update on the Experimental Dredge Project - Next Steps

As you know, the dredging and wetlands restoration fill is complete. We are moving along with the wetlands vegetation seeding, which we hope to complete in June if water levels cooperate. 

We will communicate with DNR with copy to the Corps of Engineers and Jefferson County on this process. 

The monitoring and maintenance of the wetland vegetation will extend for three growing seasons, based on the wetland restoration and monitoring plan included in the permit application and referenced in the permit approval by the Corps of Engineers.

We also have been working on the "carp gate" to separate Mud Lake from Lake Koshkonong. 

We sent photographs out in February of the metal anchorages that we installed on the precast concrete blocks to allow installation of a floating barrier that will have weights on the bottom and floats on the top to allow boat passage over the barrier. 

Steve Hjort, the ecologist on the team working for RKLD, has ordered a net assembly to use as the barrier. 

Considering Lake Koshkonong and Mud Lake are still connected by floodwater, we will plan on the barrier being operative in the spring of 2014.

Steve Hjort has also been in contact with Laura Stremick-Thompson about the carp harvesting contractor on Lake Koshkonong and on approaches to collaborating on stocking of Mud Lake using the Bark River Fish Hatchery. 

We plan to meet with Laura sometime in the near future. 

We want to make sure we have a communication loop with you for all of the things that we are trying to complete in 2014, which are:

1.      Completion of the seeding of the wetlands restoration fill

2.      Planning for operation of the carp gate barrier for 2013 – 2014

3.      Planning for coordination between RKLD, the wetland owners adjacent to Mud Lake, and the Bark River Hatchery on stocking of Mud Lake as well as Lake Koshkonong, to the extent that you want to be involved.