Saturday, December 22, 2007
Downriver Impact Iniative,
Members of the Pewaukee River Partnership decided that an important part of the Iniative would be to involve those who either lived or worked on the River. Consequently, they decided to develop a community informational meeting on March 26, 2008 at the Pewaukee Public Library.
The meeting will feature a brief panel discussion by representatives from the DNR, SEWERPAC, the Village Public Works Department and Waukesha County followed by an question period open to the audience.
The results of the river level testing as well as analysis of available research documents will also be shared with the audience.
It is hoped that this meeting will lead to new avenues for implementing the mission of PRP to "preserve, protect, promote and enhance the Pewaukee River and its watershed..."
The meeting will feature a brief panel discussion by representatives from the DNR, SEWERPAC, the Village Public Works Department and Waukesha County followed by an question period open to the audience.
The results of the river level testing as well as analysis of available research documents will also be shared with the audience.
It is hoped that this meeting will lead to new avenues for implementing the mission of PRP to "preserve, protect, promote and enhance the Pewaukee River and its watershed..."
Labels: Downriver Impact Iniative, Wetland and River Research
Analysing Collected Data
Another facet of the Downriver Impact Iniative will be the analysis of data already collected by the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Plan Commission (SEWRPAC).
Considerable information was collected within the last ten years as the Village investigated the impact that the dam shadow would have on the downtown area in the event of severe flooding or failure of the dam. These documents are readily available for research.
Considerable information was collected within the last ten years as the Village investigated the impact that the dam shadow would have on the downtown area in the event of severe flooding or failure of the dam. These documents are readily available for research.
Labels: Downriver Impact Iniative
Dam Influence on River
One of the areas to be considered in the Downriver Impact Iniative will be the regulation of the Pewaukee Lake Dam.
Guidelines for operation of the dam have been developed by the DNR. The Pewaukee Village Public Works Department is responsible to implementing the guidelines.
Consequently PRP will work with both to try to understand the relationship between lake levels as controlled by the dam and the fluctuation in the river levels.
River Level Testing
In order for the Downriver Impact Iniative to be credible, testing of the River levels will begin as soon as the project can be set up. It will be important to do the testing at a consistent time and place at a regular interval. Atty Dan Fay has offered to have his staff do the testing as soon as the project can be set up.
Charlie Shong of the Lake Pewaukee Sanitary District will order and install a staff guage on the Oakton Avenue bridge in such a position that Atty Fay's employees will be able to take readings on a daily basis. These readings will then be available for analysis.
Since the Village Public Works Department records daily precipitation events, PRP will be able to coordinate them with the staff guage readings.
Charlie Shong of the Lake Pewaukee Sanitary District will order and install a staff guage on the Oakton Avenue bridge in such a position that Atty Fay's employees will be able to take readings on a daily basis. These readings will then be available for analysis.
Since the Village Public Works Department records daily precipitation events, PRP will be able to coordinate them with the staff guage readings.
Downriver Impact Iniative
A new program called the Downriver Impact Iniative was drawn up at the November 29th meeting of the Pewaukee River Partnership in response to the request of Atty Dan Fay.
Members felt that this program should have two areas of focus:
1. determine the fluctuation frequency through testing
2. work with the DNR, Sewerpac and Pewaukee Village Public Works Department to understand the issues involved
3. develop a way to promote a better understanding of the issues by those who either live or work on the River.
Members felt that this program should have two areas of focus:
1. determine the fluctuation frequency through testing
2. work with the DNR, Sewerpac and Pewaukee Village Public Works Department to understand the issues involved
3. develop a way to promote a better understanding of the issues by those who either live or work on the River.
Labels: Downriver Impact Iniative, Wetland and River Research
River Request
On October 23, 2007 PRP received a request from Atty Dan Fay of Pewaukee to consider investigation of the regulation of water depth in the Pewaukee River. His office is located along the River and he is concerned about frequent level fluctuations which affect both aquatic plants and animals.
Atty Fay's letter was discussed by the PRP Board of Directors at its November 8th meeting. A decision was made to forward the request to the membership at the November 29th meeting with the recommendation that a program be started to address the issue.
Labels: Downriver Impact Iniative, Restoration Work, Wetland and River Research
Monday, December 17, 2007
Pewaukee Is Our Place
Thiry five recordings of personal histories related to the River or watershed have been completed. The most recent recordings focused on the Woman's Club of Pewaukee, the Pewaukee Hardware & Lumber Company, the Hansen Oil Company and the McQuire Cottage.
The project goal is to make 100 recordings. Copies of the CD recordings are being donated to both the Pewaukee Area Historical Society and the Pewaukee Public Library.
While these interviews include general history of Pewaukee, the interviewer seeks to gather information about the history of the Pewaukee River as seen by people who lived in the area.
Labels: Pewaukee Is Our Place
Siepmann Parking Lot Proposal
Jim Siepmann, developer of the Main Street Retail Center on Wisconsin Avenue, met with the Pewaukee River Partnership last July to explain plans for developing a "summertime" parking lot between the rear of the stores and the railroad tracks.
Because the outfall from Pewaukee Lake as well as the Pewaukee River would be directly impacted by this plan, Siepmann asked that PRP actually work with him to develop the site to control stormwater run off in a way that would be compatible with the River.
Siepmann Realty has continued with the process of obtaining the necessary permits to go ahead with this project. It is hoped that work on the project will be ready to start in the spring.
Because the outfall from Pewaukee Lake as well as the Pewaukee River would be directly impacted by this plan, Siepmann asked that PRP actually work with him to develop the site to control stormwater run off in a way that would be compatible with the River.
Siepmann Realty has continued with the process of obtaining the necessary permits to go ahead with this project. It is hoped that work on the project will be ready to start in the spring.
Labels: Parking Lot, Restoration Work
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Data Analysis
Jayne Jenks, Waukesha County, and Charlie Shong, PRP, analysed the data collected by the PRP monitors from 2005 through 2007. They reported their findings at the November 29th meeting.
Two sites have shown high turbidity readings: Zion Creek (perhaps due to location near both I94 and a golf course) and Coco Creek after Yench Rd (perhaps due to residential development activities to the north).
One site has consistently had the lowest dissolved oxygen readings: Pewaukee River at Capitol Dr. (perhaps due to the presence of a large wetland just to the north).
The analysis team suggested arranging more intensive testing for these three sites in 2008 to try to determine what is causing the readings.
Two sites have shown high turbidity readings: Zion Creek (perhaps due to location near both I94 and a golf course) and Coco Creek after Yench Rd (perhaps due to residential development activities to the north).
One site has consistently had the lowest dissolved oxygen readings: Pewaukee River at Capitol Dr. (perhaps due to the presence of a large wetland just to the north).
The analysis team suggested arranging more intensive testing for these three sites in 2008 to try to determine what is causing the readings.
Labels: Pewaukee River Monitoring Project, Wetland and River Research
Certificates of Appreciation
At the November 29th meeting, Ray Schwabe, PRP Monitoring Coordinator, presented Certificates of Appreciation to the members who monitored during the summer of 2007.
Once a month from May through October, twenty-one monitors checked river conditions at nine sites: 6 on the Pewaukee River, 1 on Zion Creek, 1 on Meadowbrook Creek and 2 on Coco Creek. The data they collected has been entered into the statewide DNR database on rivers and streams through the Waukesha County Dept. of Parks & Land Use. Jayne Jenks is our consultant from Waukesha County. That data is being used to establish benchmark readings for use in designing future river projects.
Labels: Pewaukee River Monitoring Project, Wetland and River Research
Election of Officers
Members of the 2007/2008 Pewaukee River Partnership Board are:
President Mary Schwister
Vice President Charlie Shong
Secretary Amy Jo Benson
Treasurer Nancy Koepp
Directors Ray Schwabe, Paul Evert, Don Frederick
Labels: Pewaukee River Partnership Board of Directors
Membership Drive
During the months of September, October and November PRP conducted a drive to enroll new members. Nine new members have joined our organization!
We would like to welcome our new members: Jim Willis, Mary Wehner, Bob & Linda Rohde, Michele Olshanski, Stan & Cindy Jaskowski, Dan Fay and Jody Barbeau.
We would like to welcome our new members: Jim Willis, Mary Wehner, Bob & Linda Rohde, Michele Olshanski, Stan & Cindy Jaskowski, Dan Fay and Jody Barbeau.
Labels: Membership, Pewaukee River Partnership
The Giving Tree
The October 2007 edition of the Living on the Lake magazine published by Lake Country Publications featured an article by Laura Dritlein entitled "The Giving Tree, 150-7ear-old Pewaukee Apple preserves a bushel of local history". The photos were done by Carla Seward.
The article gives a complete history of George Peffer and the Pewaukee Apple. It also features the Pewaukee Apple tree on the Dave Swan farm in Pewaukee. The photo was taken in September at picking time. This tree is approximately 20 years old and produces up to ten bushels each season.
Labels: Pewaukee Apple Tree, Publicity
Sale Results
The Pewaukee River Partnership has announced that a total of 36 Pewaukee Apple Trees have been sold.
Of the total, eleven trees have been donated to the Pewaukee Apple Memorial Orchard that is being established at the entrance to Simmons Woods Park.
The orchard is being created as a way to make local citizens aware of their community history. In the mid-1800s George Peffer, a local farmer, developed and promoted the process of grafting fruit trees in the State of Wisconsin. He registered one of his apples as the Pewaukee Apple. A sign will be posted in the orchard explaining the importance of George Peffer and the Pewaukee Apple. The ten Pewaukee Apple trees that have already been planted can be seen in the photo. The new donated trees will be planted in spring, 2008.
Labels: Pewaukee Apple Tree, Pewaukee Is Our Place
