Channels and Erosion
Concerns
Erosion
of our shorelines is becoming an increasing concern for Legend Lake, especially
in the relatively shallow channels. Each
channel was initially created to be around ten feet deep throughout the center
of the entire length. Over several
decades, erosion has filled many of these channels so they are only 6-8 feet
deep in 2013. Sandy, unstable shoreline areas
with minimal vegetation and boat wakes are leading to excess sedimentation of
the navigation channels.
Two
things need to happen to slow or stop this trend. One, boaters need to obey slow-no-wake
rules. Too many boaters cruise through
too fast, creating wakes of 6-12 inches high.
This may not seem like a lot, but it is causing a lot of undercutting of
the banks along these channels. Two, landowners
along these channels need to do their best to vegetate and naturalize all
shoreline areas they own that are not part of their access and viewing
corridor. Heavy vegetation along the
shoreline and on all sloped areas will hold the sand/soil in place better. The more dense, non-mowed areas of native
vegetation we can promote along these channels, the better we can keep these
waterways from filling in with sediments.
Any
channel that becomes unnavigable due to sedimentation will probably require
dredging. Dredging can cost millions of
dollars and permits are not always granted by the State. Preventing the filling of our channels is the
best way to avoid extremely expensive dredging in the future. Please do your part to help combat the
problem.
Islands in Legend
Lake
There are four islands within the Legend Lake
chain. The large town owned conservancy
in Peshtigo Lake is mostly unused. The
two islands in Big Blacksmith Lake are owned by LLPOA and are used by boaters
to a small degree. Horseshoe Island is
also a Town owned conservancy in Pyawasit Lake, and I used heavily along the
southern “tips of the horseshoe”.
Heavy
use and users ramming their boats into the shore have destabilized much of the
bank in these areas. Horseshoe Island is
eroding away at a rate of several feet per year. The island is a great gathering place to
socialize, but we need to protect it for future users and for the protected
cove it provides for wildlife habitat.
Several species of fish and birds breed in this inner area of the
island. Please do not litter on or
around the island, and most importantly, please do not ram boats into the shore
or tie to trees. Please anchor your boats in the shallow sandy areas near the
island and leave the shoreline and natural vegetation to grow and help protect
the banks.
Natural Shorelines
and Vegetated Buffers
I’d like to promote the benefits of natural
shorelines with native species of plants such as grasses, sedges, wildflowers,
shrubs and trees. Shoreline buffers like
the restoration shown below add habitat for the natural food chain and protect the
shoreline from erosion. Keeping your
access point to no more than 30 feet of your frontage, with the rest being
natural, will keep your lake cleaner and allow more habitat and food for the
fish, birds, frogs, etc.
Cost Sharing
Available in 2014
I
will have cost sharing money available again for naturalizing and stabilizing
shorelines. Currently this is first come
first served money for eligible projects.
Stabilizing shorelines with rip-rap, bio-logs, native vegetation or
other approved methods can be cost shared from 50-70%. That means that the property owner only pays
30-50% of eligible costs (with a possible upper limit dependent on total cost),
plus tax.
For
information on cost sharing eligibility, call Jeremy Johnson at
715-799-5710.
No comments:
Post a Comment