Newsletter 2020 April

COVID-19 – Some State DNR Launches Closed
We hope all property owners are doing well during this COVID-19 pandemic.  Please follow the CDC and state guidelines. If we are lucky, normalcy will return and we might be able to enjoy the lake this summer.  I see that some folks are enjoying fishing now, despite some cool weather.    I heard from a number of neighbors that they are keeping busy with an assortment of tasks they might normally avoid.  They were cleaning the basement or garage or sorting through old pictures.

We received the following information through a legislate liaison to the DNR.
Wisconsin’s waters remain open for public use.  Some public boat launches have been closed by the entities that own and operate them due to concerns with the lack of compliance with CDC guidelines on social distancing.
Boat launches located within closed DNR properties are not currently open for public use.  The Department made the decision to close boat launches at certain state properties due to the high usage and the need to limit public gatherings of people.  The Department encourages boaters and anglers to use waterbodies close to home and in their community.

Property Owners Association – Annual  Meeting
The annual meeting is scheduled for noon on Saturday, June 27, 2020, at the Cedar Lake Yacht Club.  We will continue to monitor the status of COVID-19 guidelines from the CDC and state.  It may be necessary to cancel or postpone the meeting, but at this time no decision has been made.

Water Quality Study
In our last newsletter, we indicated the POA is working with CLCF and PRD to have the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC) update the 2015 water quality study. POA and PRD volunteers completed the work to get land use data in the electronic form necessary for SEWRPC.

We are happy to report SEWRPC GIS staff has updated the Big Cedar Lake watershed land use information. Using this updated information, they produced new land use maps of the Big Cedar Lake watershed. They are using this land use data to inform the pollutant loading model and comparing the model’s output with other pollutant loading information. They also mapped the conservation and stormwater management practices that were identified in the watershed. All this information will be incorporated into a brief memorandum. It will document changes in land use and pollutant loading between 2000 and 2020.  In addition, it will document the implemented pollutant load reduction practices. SEWRPC expects to have a draft memorandum prepared by early May.

The information from this study is an important tool for municipalities or conservation groups to identify both point and nonpoint water pollution sources.  That information is used to form effective pollution abatement measures.  These measures might include such items as requirements for stormwater plans by a builder or developer.  It might indicate if retention ponds are effective or maintenance such as dredging is warranted.  Retention ponds are primarily used to help improve the quality of runoff from residential areas, roads, parking lots, and commercial areas.  They reduce peak stormwater runoff rates by providing temporary water storage during heavier storms.

Wisconsin Lakes Conference
The Wisconsin Lakes “Clean Water Lobby Day” was attended by POA directors Rick Gale and Dave Claussen. The event was held at the Concourse Hotel in Madison on Jan 30, 2020. As part of this conference, Rick and Dave were able to meet with legislative staff members from the offices of Duey Stroebel and Dale Kooyenga.

The conference focused on Clear Act Senate Bill SB302. The purpose of the act is to limit the amount of per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the state. These are called “forever chemicals” because they do not breakdown over time. This group of chemicals can harm human health and the environment. They are present in some waterproof clothing, food packaging, and paper products. The bill is likely to come before the state senate in January 2021.

Recycling
Town of West Bend
The Town of West Bend will be closing the town recycling center on July 1, 2020. Coinciding with that closing, the town will begin doing curbside recycling pickup every other week. The town will be sending a letter to all residents informing them of the change and details about it.  The information we have is that the mailing is expected within a week or two.

We urge all Town of West Bend residents to look for that mailing and determine what action is appropriate for them.
We encourage you to hold off any questions until after you receive and review that mailing.  If after getting that, you have questions, you could contact the town at 262 338-3417.

Big Cedar Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District
We hope this will not be confusing, but PRD recycling from Waste Management will continue to be available to anyone in the PRD district. As you may know, the district includes not only parts of the Town of West Bend but also parts of the Town of Polk, and  Hartford.  PRD residents can contact Waste Management to sign up and pay for this service, at a rate of Four Dollars ($4.00) per month. To sign up for the recycling service contact Waste Management by phone 888-960-0008 or email at wmeservice@wm.com.  State you are a resident of the “Big Cedar Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District in Wisconsin”. – You would like to sign up for the recycling services offered through the District’s contract with Waste Management. – You can kindly remind the WM representative that the rate is now $4.00 per month for recycling services, to make sure you are invoiced the correct amount. – The representative will then kindly ask you for your name, address, phone number, etc. to get you set up for the recycling service option.
For reference, the Big Cedar Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District contract number is 477.140820.

Town of Polk
The following link is for the Town of Polk recycling information.  Additional detailed information is available there regarding their recycling program and garbage pickup.
(http://www.tn.polk.wi.gov/docs_by_cat_type.asp?doccatid=189&locid=160).

Town of Hartford
The following link is for Hartford recycling information.  Additional detailed information is available there regarding their recycling program and garbage pickup.
https://townofhartfordwi.com/recycling/

Pier
Kudos to Tim Keith and Troy Zagel who “captured” the pier that was floating around the lake at the end of the year. It was a menace and safety hazard. It is good to see the effort of concerned residents who care about the lake and took action. The pier is now in the PRD building parking area, should anyone want to claim it.

Aquatic Invasive Species – Report
Previously we reported on the informational seminar last September on aquatic invasive species in Waukesha and Washington counties.  The information presented there was primarily about the starry stonewort that has been found in several lakes. Property owners should understand the POA and PRD are attentive to this issue and working hard to avoid this becoming a problem on Big Cedar.  The POA supports and works with the PRD to keep this invasive species from our lake.
The presentation from the seminar is available via the link below.
Aquatic-Invasive-StarryStonewort