Today's Catch!

A Bucket O' Fish 

(photo by Sheila Elwin)

Fish Gazers

Yesterday's delivery of more than 4,000 bluegill and 1,000 minnows drew an enthusiastic throng of neighbors---to say the least. If you missed it click the link below. It's almost like being there:

Today's Catch!

Eight Hundred New Neighbors

    

                                            

                                                       Channel Catfish

On June 23rd Pine Lake welcomed the first round of fish into our brand-new lake----not counting the creek fish that had already set up housekeeping. This small delivery of approximately eight hundred catfish and grass carp and new week's large delivery will effectively restock the lake with a desirable balance of species and a balance of prey and predator. 

Watch for an announcement about the big delivery this coming week. On or around June 30th a tanker truck filled with five thousand 3-4 inch fish will deposit its contents into the water. 

For the half-dozen residents who watched the first delivery, this will be dramatically different. For anyone who missed the first delivery, watch it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hhs6zjlzOII

Home Improvement

As of this week our city has ten information kiosks located at various points along the wetland walk. Each kiosk features a top banner of native plants, all photographed by Dallas Denny, and a variety of additional photos submitted by other residents. On the bottom left corner is a QR code that will send smartphone users directly to this site for deeper intel about the stream and lake restoration---which is now considered a model project for other cities, civil engineers, and water management professionals to study.

So---what's the story on the algae? 


The lakebed construction and redesign included a massive redistribution of dirt. As the lake ecology recalibrates we will have to continue managing algae for the rest of the summer. Stocking the lake with fish, including sterile grass carp, will be a help but the real results of fish activity won't be visible until next year.  




Until then, one approach to algae mitigation is The Manual Assault Method (M'am), demonstrated below by six intrepid residents (two not in photo) who call themselves Team Sisyphus. Three hours of raking and seining resulted in a significant clearing of the algae bloom next to the canoe put-in. 
Dateline: 11:00 EST 6/16/12. Let's see how long those results last. Good luck Team Sis!

Special thanks to Susan Ramsey for kiosk design and Kathie Denobriga, Kris Casariego, Lynne Nygaard, and Melissa Tidwell for kiosk content and editing. 

A Mystery.

Who took this photograph? When was it taken?

Here Come the TREES!!!

After a winter hiatus with not much activity to speak of, The Dredge Report is back for a few final postings as the lake and wetlands receive the finishing touches.

As everyone has probably noticed, the final stage of the streambank restoration project has kicked into high gear, starting with the planting of more than 150 trees (not to mention the soon-to-arrive shrubs). The installation area begins at the topmost end of the eastern wetlands and ends at the last retention pond in the western wetlands.

Megan Pulsts has a thorough description of the next steps in the current issue of PlainTalk. The project will be entirely completed by May 1st.

http://www.plainhelps.org/plaintalk/PLAINTalk.pdf

For more fantastic photographs of the March 6th tree installation action check out Dallas Denny's blog.

http://pinelaketheblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/we-get-trees.html

The Dredge Report Card

Until a few weeks ago, the flow into the lake was controlled by a contraption consisting of a Stop sign wrapped in a plastic bag. Low-concept; low-design; very effective. As the dozens of residents witnessed on October 30 with the turning of the red wheel (see photos below), the city now has something even better than a Stop-In-A-Bag: three separate valves that attenuate water flow into the lake and the creek.

However, the time it takes to fill the lake will depend on several factors. If the weather is wet, not only will the rain contribute water to the lake bed but it will also keep the stream flowing at a rate that doesn't require turning off the valves to ensure stream health. Here's a description from Paul Simpson, our project engineer:

The rate at which the lake will fill is dependent on several factors. First and foremost of course is the weather. This is the driest time of the year so that the flow in Snapfinger Creek is very low. As we are filling the lake, the State requires that the flow in the creek be maintained to at least minimum levels known as the “7Q10”. This equates to what is known as the “base flow” conditions in the stream. If we were to pull too much flow from the creek, it would harm the ecosystem of the creek, which of course we do not want to do. Our maintenance crews will be checking frequently on the flow in the creek and the inflow to the lake and will be adjusting the flows as needed to maintain the proper stream flow.

Meanwhile, there are many tasks that remain on the "punch list," including:

*the landscape architect finishing the design of our banks and berms

*general clean-up and restoration of swings, signs, and debris

*AND the re-opening of the road by the end of the week

TURN IT ON!!!

wait for it . . . wait for it . . .

This Sunday, October 23rd at 4:00 p.m. the water to fill the lake will be turned on. Officially and with great festivity.

Everyone who wants to see the first filling waters since March will gather at the path into the Eastern Wetlands and commence celebrating the return of our lake at the speed of 700 gallons a minute!

Bring cameras and champagne.

Phil Explains: water controls in the Eastern Wetlands

How will water be managed in our new wetlands, stream, and lake? Phil explains.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2D3hswDsYRE

Who'll Stop The Rain?

This is the latest aerial photograph of the lake project. Nearly all the changes to the structure are clearly visible, from the new beach sand to the re-sculpted lake bed. The work on the west end of the lake isn't as clearly depicted, but there are tiny construction vehicles---take a close look.

Evidence of the next stage has appeared in the grass next to the Gazebo: the construction of a bio-retention feature designed to manage stormwater run-off from Hemlock, Magnolia, and Clubhouse Drive. Current run-off flows directly into the lake, carrying with it all the pollutants it picks up as it flows downhill. Prior to this installation the city has used a shallow trench and sandbags to direct the water from the street.

The new system will arrest and delay the flow, allowing time for the water to percolate and clean before it makes its way into the lake. The above-ground surface will be planted as a rain garden.

Click on any of the photographs for a closer look.

DredgeFest 2011

look out Bill!

At first it appeared that LakeFest 2011 would be held in spite of the empty lake. However, as these photographs illustrate--LakeFest 2011 was held in celebration of our lake-in-progress.

With the singers, dancers, sculptors and painters and jewelry makers, with the bratwurst and beer, doughnuts and arepas and tomato pie, the beautiful sun and mischevious wind it slowly became obvious the the restoration of the heart of Pine Lake---the lake itself---was the ultimate artistic endeavor.

(that's Will and the willow)

Meanwhile, the beat goes on: the markers next to the Gazebo indicate the initial survey for the rain garden/water management feature soon to be installed.

(and the Pacha Mamas)

The Ladies of the Lake

and The Dames of the Dredge

(a.k.a The Lives Of The Monster Dogs)

Give Me Sand, Lots Of Sand.

If you happened to miss the biggest sandbox in the history of Dekalb County, suffice to say that many of the Pine Lake kids did NOT. If there are photos of the beach frolic that happened several times over the past weekend, please post to the FaceBook site!

(http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pine-Lake-Streambank-Restoration-The-Dredge/109652302459010)

This morning a single bulldozer started spreading the sand across the beach and swimming area, beginning a smooth and graduated slope into the new depth.

The work continues on several fronts: in addition to the beach area and the road work, the new surface for the trail on top of the impoundment (the "back berm") should be laid this week.

Even though the lake of LakeFest won't be in attendance, Floatzilla rages on as Boatzilla. Original "walking boat" designs will enter the competition this year: think "walk or run" instead of "sink or swim."

Become the Boat!

System of a Down

Down goes the road: this creates a spillway for any future flood events. The previous road height created a block in the path of overflow.

Down goes the pitch of the northern stream bank: the finished stream will handle creek flow completely differently from the previous vertical banks. The "new" creek better accommodates rising waters, slows down the rate of flood current, creates better habitat, and addresses erosion problems on both banks.

Down goes the bed of the swimming area: in the next several workdays the engineers will determine the water level at "full pool," which will be demarcated by string attached to posts in the lake bed. Within the next two weeks we can also expect the delivery and installation of fresh beach sand.

Pound by pound and inch by inch the dirt is removed, graded, raked, sculpted, hauled, trenched. Slowly our precious lake takes shape.

All Quiet On The Eastern Front

Why are the machines sitting idle?

On August 22nd the city council voted in a special session to include the swimming area in the scope of the streambank restoration project (a.k.a. "The Dredge"). The army corps of engineers determined that shaping the interior banks of the berm, clearing out under the bridges, and removing silt from the bed of the swimming area qualified as part of the project: this means that the federal money CAN be used to do this work. It will be paid for by the grant.

As part of this additional work, permitting specific to the swim and beach area must be completed before the machines can move in and begin the work. This paperwork turnaround is estimated to take ten days.

This week we can expect to see progress on the north bank of the stream (the house side), where clearing and brush cutting has already started. By mid-week the county will begin preliminaries for adjusting the water line that runs beside the portion of street slated to be lowered for the creation of a spillway (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuPgsABKBmE).

The result? By the time Thanksgiving rolls around the city will begin to see the rewards of the hard work, patience, and difficult choices (e.g.,the necessary tree removal) Come summertime 2012 when we are swimming in a cleaner lake with a newly poured beach of white sand, we'll all be reaping the great benefits of our vastly improved environment.

Phil Explains:Lowering the Road Bed

The latest in the "Phil Explains" videos: Phil describes one of the next steps in the Pine Lake streambank restoration project---watch it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuPgsABKBmE

The Dredge Reporters: Blais Explains Fowl Play

WIth the water absent, where have the geese and ducks gone? Blais Liam reports.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNxTKBxIyyo

Bank On It

Within the next day or so a process called "hydroseeding" will be applied to the newly graded (and very bald) banks of our lake. Phil Howland describes the steps and ingredients here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlVDAQjp9No

A Bird's Eye View

The DR is now home from summer vacation, just in time to receive these fantastic aerial photographs. The visible channels are part of the habitat structures that have been assembled and the repurposed tree trunks and root balls have been positioned for lots of swimming and spawning. Fish only.

What's next?

The largest portion of the lake bed is complete. Tonight (August 23) the city council will review the project budget and vote on amendments to upcoming steps. These amendments are specific to three project areas:

1/upgrading the valve systems that control water flow into and out of the lake

2/changes to stabilization of the northern steam bank (the side with houses)

3/dredging the swimming area to restore the internal banks of the surrounding berm and to optimize water quality

The heavy machinery will be out of the large portion of the lake next week. The remaining steps to completion (not including the budget amendment vote tonight) are these:

*lowering the road between the lake and the western wetlands (below the tennis courts) to create a spillway

*creating the bioretention area next to the gazebo

So--million-dollar question: WHEN WILL WE START FILLING THE LAKE????

The official Best Conservative Guess, give or take a week----early October.

The Dredge Reporters: Pieter Rosenbluth

One boy + 11 acres of mud = Happiness. Watch it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wCyR1BtzCY&feature=related

The Heat Goes On

The Streambank Creation

The Streambank Restoration

Trucks in, trucks out: The lake bed is shaped and sculpted for habitat with plateaus and root balls from several of the felled trees. The dog days of the project are happening now---some rain; lots of excessive heat. Clay has been trucked in and compacted against the dam and fish "shelves" are being established along the perimeter of the lake and the inner berm.

Progress.

Phil Explains: Plantings on the Streambank

(photo by Megan Pulsts)

A brief description of the plantings happening and yet-to-come along our streambank:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUojF2GoCTo