1. So far this late winter, Wonder Lake ice (or the lack of enough of it) has bagged a snowmobile, an ATV, and an iceboat. In addition, the SUV of an ice fisherman was also spotted parked on the ice, which apparently resulted in a variety of comments on the Wonder Lake Neighbors Facebook page, as well as a photograph of the offending vehicle with its license plate prominently displayed. As a result, the offender was issued a $250 citation by the Wonder Lake Police Department.

1. The Illinois Lake Management Association (ILMA) and Illinois Chapter of the American Fisheries Society (AFS) are hosting a joint Annual Conference at the I Hotel & Conference Center in Champaign, Illinois from March 16th through March 19th, 2022. Info at ILMA-Lakes.org

2. Draft engineering plans for the Merchant Creek footbridge have been received and are being reviewed by the Nippersink Watershed Association. This timeframe should allow pursuing the regulatory permits over the coming winter, to allow construction by next spring / early summer.

1. Our hot dry summer has continued into Fall. Since September 1st, Wonder Lake has only received a total of 3.4 inches of rainfall, as measured at the USGS Thompson Road gage.

1. Northern McHenry County is still the ONLY location in the entire eastern United States that is under extreme drought. According to data released by the National Weather Service, the month of June 2021 was the fourth-hottest June ever recorded in Chicago’s history. Based on long-term climate averages, from April 1st to today, the amount of expected rainfall at Wonder Lake would be 13.7 inches. Instead, for this same period, the USGS rain gage at Thompson Road only recorded about 6.1 inches.

1. On April 15th, with the cooperation of the Woodstock Fire/ Rescue District, the Wonder Lake Fire Protection District and Hebron-Alden-Greenwood Fire Protection District performed a controlled burn at the Wonder Lake Sediment Drying Facility on Greenwood Road. Conducted as a FPD training exercise, this burn was done at the request of the MPOA, to burn off undesirable vegetation growing in the highly fertile dried sediment. Thanks to all involved for getting this accomplished.

1. Lake users are reminded that with the recent thaw, any remaining ice surface should be considered unsafe.

2. In addition to the state-required annual inspection of the Wonder Lake Dam, the MPOA has retained the engineering firm (CBBEL) that conducts those inspections to also prepare a report on the Wonder Lake Dam and Spillway.

1. The annual inspection of the Wonder Lake Dam and the Wonder Lake SDF was conducted by the MPOA consulting engineers on Friday, October 9th. The engineers were pleased with the concrete repair work that was done on the spillway during the Fall 2019 lake drawdown. Their summary report will be forwarded to the IDNR-OWR, as required.

1. The 2019 drawdown of Wonder Lake is now officially over. As of the beginning of December, water again began flowing over the dam spillway, allowing the sluice gates to again be fully closed. It is still expected that the lake level will still rise a bit more, as it usually maintains a normal pool from 3 to 6 inches above the spillway crest.

1. Believe it or not, the lake drawdown is underway. With the heavy rains experienced over the last month, Wonder Lake only returned to “normal” water level in the last few days, despite the gradual opening of the sluice gates in the dam over the past few weeks. Other than a forecast for some rain Thursday night and Friday, the 10-day weather forecast looks dry at the moment.

1. The Nippersink Watershed Association met and exceeded its fund-raising goal of $7,000, which enables the NWA to receive an additional $21,000 in grant funding from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (ICECF) for the on-going Merchant Creek restoration project.

1. The rip-rap portion of the shoreline stabilization project at the Wonder Center – North Park, as well as around Strom and Yacht Club Islands, is now complete. Seeding / planting of native vegetation to further help stabilize shoreline soils and protect water quality will be implemented soon. This project was largely funded by an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency grant. In order for the rip-rap to effectively protect the shoreline, it needs to stay in place, so folks visiting the islands should refrain from re-arranging the rock, or having rock tossing contests.

1. The MPOA will be conducting a drawdown of the lake in the Fall of 2019 to facilitate needed maintenance of the Wonder Lake Dam spillway. The drawdown will also provide an opportunity for lakefront landowners to conduct clean-up activities along their frontage, or possibly implement shoreline stabilization practices.

1. Lake users are reminded that with the deeper water now present in the dredged portions of the lake, and the recent variations in temperature, ice formation on the lake so far this winter has been unpredictable at best. Please use extreme caution attempting to access the lake, unless you are positive of safe ice conditions.

1. The MPOA dredging project has been completed, barring some minor restoration of areas disturbed by dredging equipment, which will take place in 2019. As is typical in this type of project, funds for that work are being withheld from the final payout to the dredging contractor until that restoration has been completed.

1. The MPOA dredging contractor continues to work in West Bay. At the present rate of production, the MPOA dredging contractor has estimated that the entire dredging project should be completed by late Fall of 2018, barring an early winter. It is anticipated that the final dredging activities will occur along the un-dredged southeast shore of West Bay, likely in mid-to-late October, 2018. This should allow time for those landowners to remove their piers to allow unobstructed dredging access.

1. The MPOA dredging contractor continues to work in West Bay. At the present rate of production, the MPOA dredging contractor has estimated that the entire dredging project should be completed by late Fall of 2018. It is anticipated that the final dredging activities will occur along the south shore of West Bay, likely in late September or early October, 2018. This should allow time for those landowners to remove their piers to allow unobstructed dredging access.

1. The MPOA dredging contractor continues to work in South Bay. At last report, the dredging company is hoping to have the “deep habitat” area in South Bay completed by the start of next week. They will then complete any remaining portions of South Bay that have not yet been dredged, or that require any remedial work, based upon the findings of the hydrographic surveyor.

1. The MPOA dredging contractor is in the process of re-mobilizing this week, with the intent to resume dredging this coming weekend, weather permitting. Their current plan is to resume dredging in South Bay, concentrating on working the east shoreline first, to allow those lakefront landowners to install piers once dredging in that area has been completed. The intent is to have the dredging of South Bay, and any remaining dredging that can be done around O’Brien Shoals, completed as soon in the 2018 boating season as possible, after which the remaining dredging will be in West Bay.

1. Any winter lake user should use extreme caution when in the vicinity of the floating pipeline, located roughly between Wickline Islands on the east and the Highland Shores beach on the west. Winter lake users are also reminded of the presence of the rip-rap “collars” around Wickline Island and O’Brien Shoals.

2. Our variable weather this winter also means lake users must use extreme caution on the ice during warmer temperatures.

1. The MPOA dredging contractor has shut down for the winter. All of the in-lake sediment pipeline in West Bay and through the designated boating season pipeline crossing has been “sunk” for the winter. South of the designated crossing, a portion of the pipeline is floating at the surface and has been marked by buoys. The remaining pipeline south of that point has been detached and moved into the southern part of South Bay, and secured against the west shoreline.

The MPOA dredging contractor continues to move farther into South Bay.  The exhibit below shows their progress up to October 4^th, 2017.  To date, approximately 178,000 cubic yards of sediment have been dredged from South Bay, out of the 247,000 cubic yards under contract.  Depending on how the weather cooperates this fall, the MPOA dredging consultant estimates that it is still possible that South Bay may be completed by the end of this dredging season.  In order to do so, the dredging contractor will be conducting expanded shifts, so everyone’s continued cooperation is greatly appreciated.

1. The MPOA dredging contractor continues to move farther into South Bay. They are planning to add an additional dredging shift to increase production.

1. The MPOA dredging contractor re-mobilized and completed Wickline Island. They then re-positioned and began dredging at O’Brien Shoals. They were able to complete the area shown in red below, before encountering thick deposits of rock “cobble”, ranging from golf-ball to tennis-ball size. The dredging of this cobble caused the larger on-shore booster pump to break down, leading to a dredging work stoppage of approximately 11 days until a replacement booster pump could be located and brought in.

1. The MPOA dredging contractor has re-mobilized, and is continuing to get the equipment and dredge pipeline ready for the start of the 2017 dredging season. Dredging is expected to get underway within the next week.

1. After the lake iced-up in December, a question arose as to the possible presence of dredging pipeline still extending across the main body of the lake. Further investigation determined that while the vast majority of the dredge pipeline had been removed from the lake, or was moved to the northwest area of West Bay, a section of pipeline at the summer 2016 pipeline crossing was still in place. This crossing location is still marked by “no-wake” buoys, and all sections of this pipeline segment are fully submerged below the ice / lake level.

1. After moving out of South Bay, the dredging contractor began work at Wickline Island, and was able to complete the areas shown in red below before having to shut down for the winter on November 22.  Dredging this area took longer than expected due to encountering primarily clay lakebed, which clogs the dredge cutterhead, instead of the expected softer sediments.

1. The MPOA dredging contractor will be moving out of South Bay MPOA by next week to work on completing the Wickline Island dredging before moving up to resume work on the O’Brien Shoals area. Any remaining Lake User’s need to be aware of changing conditions related to the location of the dredge, anchor barges, booster pump, and sediment pipeline. Any remaining areas to be dredged will be completed in 2017.

1. The MPOA has received numerous comments from lake users about issues in their trying to cross the sediment pipeline at the designated crossing point. The MPOA continues to work with the dredging contractor to make sure that lake users understand how to cross the pipeline without damaging their boats or the pipeline.

The Wonder Lake Sportsman’s Club held its annual lake clean-up on April 17th.   Be sure to thank the following folks for their much appreciated efforts:

1. I am still working with our dredging consultant to obtain the surveyed sediment verification for White Oaks Bay so that the MPOA can finally confirm that the volume of dredged sediment for WOB, as required under the dredging contract has been removed from that area.

2. The MPOA dredging contractor has de-mobilized for the winter. All dredging equipment / pipeline that will remain in the lake over the winter has been relocated to West Bay, as shown below. Winter lake users will need to exercise caution when in West Bay.

1.    The MPOA dredging contractor is continuing to de-mobilize for the winter.  All dredging equipment / pipeline that will remain in the lake over the winter has been relocated to West Bay, as shown below. Assuming the lake will eventually ice over, winter lake users will need to exercise caution when in West Bay.  

1. The MPOA dredging contractor has completed the dredging of White Oaks Bay, and has re-positioned the dredge and pipeline to allow them to begin dredging near O'Brien Shoals. This means that the pipeline is now extended across the middle of Wonder Lake, roughly between West Bay and Wonder Center Beach. While the dredging contractor has installed pipeline markers and pipeline crossings, all lake user's must exercise extreme caution when operating in the mid-section of the lake.

July 8th, 2015

1. The “Preliminary Dredging Sequence and Timeline” is being posted / updated on the MPOA website as we get new info. This sequence and timeline will likely shift as dredging continues, based on equipment issues, temperatures, flood events, and other unforeseen circumstances. Those already on the MPOA e-mail mailing list will be notified when updates are posted to the MPOA website. If you are not on the mailing list, contact Lance at the MPOA office at: office@wlmpoa.org.

1. Because of changes in MPOA office staffing, and to accommodate the scheduled availability of new workers for the decal sales, the MPOA office hours have been changed. The new Summer hours for the MPOA office are from Tuesday through Friday from the hours of 10 am to 2 pm. Saturday hours are from 8 am to 1 pm.

2. As we have new office staff handling the decal transactions, in advance we ask for your patience and cooperation, and offer the following suggestions:

1. The MPOA has received the “Aquatic Invaders” signs to be posted at all WL boat ramps. The Wonder Lake Sportsman’s Club (WLSC) has agreed to the install the signs as part of their Spring 2015 annual lake cleanup. The signs will be installed on “T” posts or existing fences near each boat ramps. If any subdivision does NOT want the sign installed, contact the MPOA office.

2. The WLSC Spring Clean-up will be scheduled for mid-to-late April. A definite date should be available for the next MPOA meeting. Volunteers are always welcome.

Agenda Item V.E. - January 8th, 2015

1. The SDF was dewatered for the winter. This will help consolidate the sediment already present in Cell # 1; allow the MPOA to make any necessary inspections; and will allow for any minor maintenance that may be required in the spring, before dredging resumes.

1.    Dredging for the 2014 construction season ended on November 11, 2014.  The early on-set of sub-freezing weather was beginning to impact mechanical parts on the dredge and booster pump, resulting in the need to shut down operations.  They will be spending next week doing a partial demobilization of the equipment, all of which will remain on-site over the winter, so they can resume work as soon as weather / lake conditions allow in Spring 2015.

1. The dredging continues. As expected, while working on the Nippersink Creek inlet, the contractor was encountering a large volume of rock, as this is the first material that settles out and accumulates after being washed into the lake by the Nippersink. While the dredge can pass rocks up to “baseball” size, some odd shaped rocks got past the screen and bent a part on the booster pump, causing some delays while replacement parts were obtained and installed. The contractor has also installed an additional screen to further block rocks from entering the dredge pipe.

1. The SDF contractor has completed all of the remaining punch-list items, barring some final site clean-up, and I am working on closing out their contract over the next month or so.

2. Dredging officially started at 1:30 pm on June 25th.

1.    A site walk-through of the SDF site was conducted on May 14, including the HDR project engineer; the MPOA dredging consultant; and the SDF contractor.  The SDF is coming along well, with the slopes greening up, and the perimeter fencing work underway.  A punchlist is being developed that will identify items the SDF contractor still needs to address to fulfill their contract requirements.

1.    The SDF contractor is still estimating final project completion by April 1st, 2014 (weather permitting), which will allow a 2014 dredging start.
2.    Requests for dredging bids were sent to eight (8) firms known to have worked on similar sized projects.  One of these firms, based on the East Coast, and who had previously expressed interest in our project, has indicated they will not be bidding.  Other prospective bidders have submitted a number of questions regarding the project / bids, and two firms have conducted site visits to date.