Watershed Improvement District stays busy all winter

By Mary Ann Francis

Barcroft News Staff

 

Cold and snow over the past two months have not kept the WID operations team indoors. In December and January, WID has been busy:

Installing a new pump and motor in the dam house. These pump the hydraulic oil that operates the dam gate. There are redundant pumps and motors, and one ailing set has been replaced. The second set will be replaced in the near future.

Beefing up security. In the aftermath of several burglaries, the WID compound alarm system has been reviewed, and new warning signs will be installed. In addition, the project to build a fence around the WID compound continues, and WID staffers are setting fence specs and negotiating with contractors. Finally, a new buoy line is being procured for spring installation. This will be similar to a debris diverter in structure, protecting boats and swimmers from getting too close to the dam.

Calibrating a new controller system for the dam gate. Thanks to statistical analysis by WID Trustee Pete Sylvia among others, the new controller system has been significantly improved after reprogramming and is functioning well.

Cleaning up beach shoreline and edge. WID's annual major cleanup of the beaches and Lake shoreline took twice as long as usual this year because of debris left by the hurricane and other major storms. The staff collected 5 dump truck loads of trash from the beaches, 7 harvester loads and 8 barge loads of material from the shoreline and water, and 9 trashcan loads of white trash from the Potterton debris diverter including plastic bottles and cups, aluminum cans, and plastic trash bags. This cleanup took more than six person days to complete. Cleanup of WID materials on Beach 5 was also a major project in December.

Sampling fish. Results of the fish sample testing are back. Ken Kopka and Fred Leutner of Burton Circle are coordinating with the Environmental Protection Agency to analyze the results and compare them to EPA health guidelines. Test results and recommendations will be available in about a month and will be published in the Barcroft News.

WID's next major project will be the annual maintenance mowing of Swift Island. This is a large manual effort, necessary to contain weed growth and keep vines from overgrowing the trees. It will take four person days using heavy duty gas powered trimmers to complete this work.