1. A request for proposal to conduct our annual state required inspections of the dam and Sediment Drying Facility this fall has been sent to the MPOA engineers. 

2. An engineering plan for renovating the protection of the control shafts operating the sluice gates at the Wonder Lake spillway has been received. The next step is to receive a proposal from the MPOA marine contractor to first remove the existing failed protection, and to then install the new shaft protection. 

3. Aging Midwest dams in the news: 

1. The MPOA dredged sediment marketing investigations continue. The soil testing lab results have been forwarded to a soil scientist who will hopefully be able to provide insight as to the best potential use of the accumulated sediment, or whether there may be soil amendments that could be added that would result in a higher quality product, with a higher price point in the marketplace. 

1. The Wonder Lake Fire Department attempted to conduct a controlled burn at the Wonder Lake Sediment Drying Facility in order to reduce weedy growth, however, the damp weather conditions limited how much could be burned off. Thanks again to the WLFD for their on-going efforts to assist in this activity. 

1. The Illinois Lake Management Association (ILMA) is hosting its annual conference at the I-Hotel & Conference Center in Champaign from March 4th through March 6th, 2024. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Trent Ford, Illinois State Climatologist, who will discuss Climate Change and Water Resources in Illinois. Registration info can be found at ILMA-Lakes.org 

1. With single digit temperatures forecast starting this weekend, we might finally be heading towards “safe ice”. As such, this is a good time to remind winter lake users about the need to exercise particular care when venturing out on the ice as it does form. The MPOA website (wlmpoa.org) has a video posted on how someone falling through the ice can perform a "self-rescue". Winter lake users are also reminded of the presence of the rip-rap collars around O'Brien Shoals and Wickline Island, and that ice formation may have changed in those areas of the lake that had been dredged.