It's Nearly JULY.

WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG???

As described, the largest part of this project is the streambank restoration--which is exactly what it sounds like. Here is the engineering diagram that indicates the steps that we’ll be watching in the next several weeks (sorry it's small---working on posting a larger copy):

Yes: it is taking longer than originally expected, and possibly longer still depending on the weather. As you’ve read in previous DRs, this is a multi-agency, multi-governmental, and multi-step process with the heavy equipment and earth moving steps greatly affected by rain. It’s a stop/start pain-in-the-neck enterprise and the result will be an improved and stabilized stream and lake ecosystem. That said, we expect to see many trees cut within the next week.

Meanwhile, there have been recent repeat questions about the funding of this project. Here’s an excerpt from the April 17^th DR:

Pine Lake has been approved for a streambank restoration grant as part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act in partnership with the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority. This project is specifically focused on reconfiguring the bank between the lake and the creek, with a subset of the work including dredging the eastern area of the lake where nearly all of the silt depositing occurs. A third element in this environmental effort is the construction of a bioretention feature to the west of the Gazebo (where there is currently a drainage ditch.) The last piece of the project is the lowering of the road between the lake and the Western wetlands to create a spillway in the event of a major flood (expect the road to be closed at this phase).

As of June 27^th the road is now closed. Spectators and pedestrians---please stay out of this area which is now an active work site.

For more information about streambank restoration, check out www.wildlandhydrology.com .

For photos and more information, check out

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pine-Lake-Streambank-Restoration-The-Dredge/109652302459010?sk=wall

The Dam,The Berm, The Dike, The Impoundment,The Streambank

Police Chief Purvis/Mayor I.B. Melton

Call it what you will. The earthen dam that separates the lake from the creek will be completely re-sculpted over the next several weeks.

Created in 1952, the dike (as it was referred to then) was created to the best of the city's ability at the time. Unfortunately this included planting trees which over time have become a threat to the structural integrity of the earth that keeps the lake out of the creek--and vice versa.

At the start of the lake project thirty-one trees were originally marked for removal. The dam was reevaluated early last week and it was determined that more trees will need to be removed than was first expected. Removal will begin within the next week or two. This is unfortunate, to say the least, but obviously very necessary. Parts of the trees will be repurposed to create habitat; apparently the remains of a Christmas tree can be seen in the lakebed surrounded by indications of fish activity.

Dozens of stakes were inserted into the lakebed last week. Each of these indicates the depth of the dig in that area, so please don't remove them. There will also be "plateaus" created in the lake bottom to give our fish places to lay eggs.

In case you missed the second round of fish relocation last Thursday, an estimated 2500 fish were taken from the small pool of remaining water and transferred into the creek, one basket at a time.

We've been told to expect equipment to move in by the end of this week or early next week. Of course, any rain can greatly affect the timeline.

For photos and more information, check out http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pine-Lake-Streambank-Restoration-The-Dredge/109652302459010?sk=wall.

http://pinelaketheblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/1952-building-berm.html

The Dredge Reporters: Blais Liam

Over the next several weeks we'll be hearing the opinions and observations of our "Dredge Reporters." The streambank restoration project has caught the attention, imagination, and enthusiasm of many of our young neighbors.

For the first in the series, click here:

The Dredge Reporters: Blais Liam.dv

www.youtube.com

The Dredge Report #6

The Swimsuit Issue

The giant pump at the lake worked overtime several days last week, pumping two thousand gallons a

minute from the lake into the creek. This was in preparation for the fish removal on Friday and

Saturday.

Most of the fish---approximately six hundred--- were taken from the lake and relocated by our fish expert, Robbie Bowen of Environmental Services Incorporated. Many were

transported in baskets to the creek; the rest were trucked to an off-site pond. Although some number of fish will not survive this part of the lake restoration, the majority were successfully removed.

Two large grass carp were also captured in the Friday round-up; each was estimated to weigh between thirty-five and fifty pounds.

At least a dozen neighbors were on hand for the capture of Goldie, the twenty-pound goldfish. She has been taken to a large koi pond for the remainder of the restoration project and will be returned to the lake once it is stabilized.

Goldie’s Summer Digs (she’s the big gold koi)

Rumor has it there was once a store where RCB is currently located that sold fish and would

periodically dump a few into the lake, perhaps explaining the origin of Goldie.

Georgia Development plans to let the lakebed sit for another week to dry. If all goes well (no rain) we can expect to start seeing activity sometime during the week of June 20th.

For more information (and more photographs) join the Facebook site. Check out the video of Robbie Bowen discussing the relocation, romance, and return of Goldie.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pine-Lake-Streambank-Restoration-The-

Dredge/109652302459010?sk=wall

and check out Dallas Denny’s blog at:

http://pinelaketheblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/fish-catch.html

(photos by Melanie Hammet; Goldie pond photo by Robbie Bowen)

The Dredge Report #5

“Curses! Foiled again!”

As the lake turns to mud many folks have been asking about stagnant water and the

likely mosquito problem this will create.

In anticipation of this potential activity the county (with state guidance) has treated our

wetland system with a larvicide. Mosquito breeding will be monitored from the spillway

to the far end of the western wetlands by weekly tests and foiled by monthly treatments.

Also: The path on the impoundment (the back berm) has been closed until further

notice. A pump is now at work eight hours a day to siphon off the remaining water and

the fish are being relocated to a private lake this week. A fish-out is no longer possible

due to shoreline conditions.

Plus: Several residents have reported seeing a mama turtle laying eggs in a yard blocks

from the lake. We’ve been advised by turtle experts (and common sense) to leave them

alone.

Please sign up to receive these emails (TheDredgeReport@gmail.com) and to send in

questions. You can also contact Phil Howland at City Hall. For more information about stream

bank restoration, check out www.wildlandhydrology.com .