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.
2. It’s important to remember that ANY shoreline stabilization project will likely require regulatory permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and McHenry County or Village of Wonder Lake, as discussed here: https://wlmpoa.org/shoreline-streambank-stabilization-permits Acquiring permits can take a number of months, so now is the time to begin planning any shoreline stabilization activities planned to coincide with the Fall 2019 drawdown. It should be noted that the MPOA is now requiring that any permit for a new or replacement seawall must have a survey prepared by a Professional Land Surveyor, to determine whether encroachment onto the MPOA-owned lakebed is proposed.
3. As many will recall, in 2010 the United States Geological Survey (USGS) conducted an “EcoMapper” survey of Wonder Lake (Ecomapper PDF). This survey provided a baseline of water depths in the lake, as well as gathered data on a number of various water quality parameters. Now that the dredging has been completed, I have been in contact with USGS about the possibility of having another EcoMapper survey conducted. In addition to being able to generate a detailed bathymetric map of the lake, it would also allow a comparison of pre-dredge and post-dredge water quality characteristics, and sediment deposition rates. If determined to be feasible, the survey would likely take place in 2020.
4. The MPOA was recently contacted by the developer currently negotiating to acquire the Meadows of West Bay (MOWB) subdivision regarding the deeded lake rights granted to MOWB lot owners and how to expedite providing that access. Discussions are expected to continue as the developer continues to negotiate with the Village of Wonder Lake.
5. With spring arriving, the Wonder Lake Sportsman’s Club will be resuming the harassment of the large population of Double-crested Cormorant’s now found on Wonder Lake. All harassment activities are done in accordance with the applicable regulatory agency rules.
6. On March 14th and 15th, I will be attending the Illinois Lake Management Association conference in Crystal Lake, along with a number of Wonder Lake residents. Thanks to Dick Hilton for his long-term efforts in assisting in the day-to-day and conference planning operations of this organization. His efforts and knowledge are appreciated state-wide.
7. On March 22nd, I will be attending the 7th Annual Fox River summit in Burlington, Wisconsin. While the focus is on the Fox River, many of the topics being discussed have direct connections to issues facing Nippersink Creek and Wonder Lake. https://www.southeastfoxriver.org/2019foxriversummit
8. The regularly scheduled “3rd Saturday” Nippersink Watershed Association Merchant Creek workday will be held on Saturday, March 16th, 2019 to clear invasive brush from a portion of the Merchant Creek stream corridor. This volunteer work is being done in advance of an upcoming IEPA Section 319 funded stream stabilization project to help minimize the significant amounts of sediment that this parcel has delivered to Wonder Lake over the past decades, due to a lack of proper management by the previous landowner. Please note that a new meeting location is being used for this workday. Volunteer’s will meet at 8 am at the north end (dead end) of Park Drive, just north of Wooded Shores Drive. Park Drive is the second side street off Wooded Shores Drive coming west from East Wonder Lake Road. As always, volunteers are welcome, as volunteer time counts towards a ICECF grant also obtained by the NWA.