The Illinois Dept of Agriculture reopened their application period for special project grants in December so I submitted an application through the SWCD.  This helped to organize a plan and there is a possibility to receive 60% reimbursement of the purchase cost.

 

We need to determine the actual planned alignment and do more detailed field measurements of water depths.   I anticipate it would be more efficient to install the concrete footing and eyelet for the anchor on the steep wooded far shoreline during the winter from the ice.  Hopefully the turbidity curtain plan can be reviewed and move forward with additional recommendations this month.

 

In addition I think ACL should consider applying for an IDNR Ecosystem Program grant to engage the Illinois State Water Survey to do a study of the lake, especially to consider lake aeration/destratification and possibly to help quantify the impact of other activities such as the dredging, turbidity curtain etc. 

 

It is conceivable to obtain money through the grant to assist with the purchase/lease of a large aeration unit (Solarbee?) as required to help justify the study.  The grant applications are not very lengthy and do not have a required match but need a concise plan and a budget that tells a good story.   Providing some matching funds would increase the chances for success. They seem to look favorably at projects that help fund work by other Divisions of IDNR, such as the Water Survey.

 

These grants need to be submitted on-line by February 29 and if approved the actual implementation is 12+ months away.  Information on-line is at

http://www.dnr.state.il.us/orep/c2000/ecosystem/fy09/index.htm