(image courtesy of Dane County)

County Executive Joe Parisi’s 2017 budget includes funding for a 4-year, $12 million project to use hydraulic dredging to remove phosphorus from stream beds, including the upper Yahara River and Token Creek upstream from Cherokee Marsh.

Phosphorus encourages algae growth that reduces water clarity and results in fish kills due to oxygen depletion caused by algae’s decomposing. Dredging the sediments will prevent them from making their way downstream into Cherokee Marsh and the Yahara Lakes.

The project will begin with a pilot effort on Dorn Creek in the Six Mile Creek watershed. If successful, the project will expand to other targeted stream sections including the upper Yahara River just south of HWY 19 and north of Deforest and Token Creek near HWY 51 and north of HWY 19.

The proposal follows a $60,000 study to analyze water quality and phosphorus content of the streams and creeks that feed into Lake Mendota. Testing showed that the phosphorus concentration in the stream sediments is seven times greater than that of crop fields in the watershed.

The Clean Lakes Alliance is sponsoring a special presentation about the project: Yahara Lakes 101 with Dane County Executive Joe Parisi. Kyle Minks and John Reimer of the Dane County Land & Water Resources Department will talk about the sediment removal project and answer questions. Coffee, fruit and pastries provided. Free parking.

Thursday, October 13, 8:00 to 9:00 am
The Edgewater, 1001 Wisconsin Pl
$10, free to Clean Lakes Alliance members
Register to attend