The "Dredge Report"

After dredging
The navigation channel from the main lake to Buckwall Bay was dredged out on November 16 and 17, 2010. Moravitz Excavating was the contractor. HLIA members voted approval of a swing-loan for the dredging project. So far, $5,700 of the total $6,000 cost has been repaid to the HLIA by bay residents.
Pam Nelson spearheaded the efforts required to get this project done. This included obtaining the required permit, working with the DNR, and coordinating with the contractor as well as the contributors of time, boats and materials. The cabin owners on the channel, the Finleys, granted access to the channel - allowing the excavator to cross their property. Dave Johnson offered the critical location for disposal of dredged material. John Plaschko, Bret Johnson and Frank Norton helped coordinate the project and the gathering of contributions. Lake residents who do not own property on the bay provided a lot of support. Mike Waldo provided 100 feet of silt barrier and Craig Nackerud provided anchoring posts.
As many HLIA members know, this channel dredging effort was very different from the last dredging effort in 1988. The dredging method used then was a "drag line," which no dredging or excavating company in western Wisconsin uses today. This time conventional excavating equipment was used and it was extremely difficult going. Bob Moravitz and his assistant Chad Evenson performed what Pam describes as "an almost impossible job," working two full days non-stop to get it done.
Pam says, "The channel looks great! They plucked out huge boulders and did an awesome job under the circumstances. They were not able to reach beyond the barrier to move any rocks. Bob said 'It would have taken a helicopter,' so the exposed boulders will have to be marked and avoided. We owe a huge thank you to Dave Johnson for the use of his property to dispose of the material ... it is amazing to see all of it in the ravine. The barrier at the lake end worked 100% ... nothing drifted into the main lake."
Some work remains. When the snow melts, volunteers will be needed to help restore the areas on the Finley property area and the channel shore that were affected by the excavating equipment.
The past two years have been difficult ones for the folks in the bay. Many eventually gave up on boating because the main lake was out of reach. The completed channel dredging will restore access to the bay and the main lake for all lake residents.

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