At the
With a vote of 2 against and 2 in favor
and one abstaining not to put the boards on, the chairman broke the tie with
voting nay to not putting the boards on.
Thus the boards will be going on in the near future at a cost of $2600
to put them on and take them off.
The boards have not gone on the
dam as of yet due to the high water this spring. With water levels becoming near the “normal”
level for this time of year on the lake, the boards are scheduled to go on the week
of June 9th. This all depends
on the water level at the dam dropping enough to allow the workers to get the
boards on safely.
We will attempt to give you an
exact date when we find out and post it here for your information.
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THOSE DAM BOARDS
Over the years there has been a lot of discussion of the boards on the Princeton Dam. More rumors seem to come up each year than sightings of Elvis.
HERE
ARE THE FACTS
Through an agreement between the Lake Puckaway Protection and Rehabilitation District and the Wisconsin DNR, the Lake District has assumed responsibility for placing and removing the boards on the Princeton Dam. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) allows the district to place 18 inches of boards on the dam any time after May 15 of each year. The boards have to be removed by October 31 of each year. The district has contracted with H. Treder and Sons of Princeton to do the work for the past several years.
Lake Puckaway Improvement Association has been
generous with us in donating the boards when they need replacement. The boards
have never been removed during the summer months but have floated off during
periods of extremely high water. The boards
have little effect on lake levels during periods of extremely high or low river
flow. The dam, board, and lock system were not built to be a lake management
tool, but to make Lake Puckaway and the Fox River navigable. The following is a
copy of the MOU between the District and the DNR.
February
2008 through December 31, 2010 MOUA
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING and
AGREEMENT BETWEEN LAKE PUCKAWAY PROTECTION AND REHABILITATION DISTRICT and THE STATE OF WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL
RESOURCES
I. Introduction
WHEREAS the purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement, (MOUA) is to set forth the agreements and understandings which have been reached between Lake Puckaway Protection and Rehabilitation District, (LPPRD) and the State of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regarding the placement, removal, and repair of the pins and flashboards on the Princeton Dam, Green Lake County, Wisconsin.
WHEREAS the DNR and LPPRD are interested in preserving and improving the ecology of Lake Puckaway in a manner that balances the recreational desires of humans with the ecological needs of the lake.
NOW THEREFORE the DNR and LPPRD agree to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement (MOUA) regarding the placement, removal, and repair of the water control flashboards on the Princeton Dam according to the following understandings and agreements:
II. Description of the Property
T16N, R11E, Town of Princeton, Green Lake County, Wisconsin.
Section 35: The Princeton Dam and Lock Gates as located in the SW1/4 NE1/4 and the SE1/4 NW1/4, including access to the Princeton Dam crest and Lock Channel gates.
III. Consideration
The DNR will authorize the LPPRD to conduct necessary placement, removal, and repair of the pins and flashboards on the dam in accordance with the terms of the MOUA for no financial remuneration.
IV. Obligations of the DNR
1. The DNR will continue general property maintenance, management and operation obligations relating to the above-described Princeton Dam and Lock, except those outlined in paragraph 'V' below.
2. The DNR will have sole discretion as to the extent of any such maintenance and associated costs.
3. The DNR will issue any necessary permits to the LPPRD for said placement, removal, or repair of the pins and flashboards on the dam if applicable under Wis. Statute Ch. 31 or laws at the signing of the MOUA.
V. Obligations of the District
1. LPPRD will contract with a properly bonded and insured contractor for the flashboards to be placed on the dam and taken off the dam, and to make and repair to the pin and flashboard system.
2. No more than three (3) rows of nominal dimensional 2x6 inch lumber planks will be placed on the crest of the dam. Boards will be placed no earlier than May 15 of each year and removed from the dam no later than October 31of each year. Changes to the board on and board off dates requires mutual agreement by DNR and LPPRD.
3. The LPPRD has the authority to have a contractor conduct repair and maintenance of the pin and flashboards throughout the year.
4. Costs associated with contracting for services and purchase of the pins and flashboards will be the responsibility of the LPPRD.
5. The LPPRD or its designee has the authority to conduct operation of the lock gates to facilitate placement, removal, and repair of the flashboards and pins.
6. If a mutually agreeable water level management plan is adopted as part of the Lake Puckaway Management Plan during the time specified in the MOUA, flashboard placement or operation of any other water control device shall thereafter be in accordance with the plan.
7. The LPPRD will be responsible for addressing public relations activities associated with placement, removal, or repair of pins and flashboards on the dam including news papers, news letters, kiosk postings, web site, and telephone contact information.
8. LPPRD will take make a reasonable effort to schedule flashboard manipulation in a manner that allows for advanced notification of manipulation. LPPRD will notify the DNR and the mayor of Berlin of flashboard placement, removal, or repair in advance of said event, or if unavoidable, as soon as possible after the event.
VI. General
1. This MOUA shall become effective upon the signatures by both the DNR and the LPPRD, and expires on December 31, 2010. This agreement may be extended through mutual agreement of the DNR and LPPRD.
2. This Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement is subject to all applicable laws and regulations.
3. This Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement may be revised by mutual written agreement of the DNR and the LPPRD.
4. The MOUA shall not be construed as creating a public debt on the part of the DNR in contravention of Article VIII, Wisconsin Constitution and all payments or obligations hereunder are subject to the availability of future appropriations.
5. The LPPRD specifically reserves and
maintains all the rights to assert any and all affirmative defense afforded a
public entity under Wis. Statute 893.80 or other Wis. Statutes available for
defense.
6. Because modification of the dam can effect downstream water levels and flows, the LPPRD will
notify the Mayor of the City of Berlin of flash board modification no less than
48 hours before board manipulation occurs.
VII. Termination
1. LPPRD. The LPPRD may terminate their Memorandum of Agreement with the DNR by providing thirty (30) days written notice of said termination.
2. DNR. The DNR may terminate this Memorandum of Agreement with the LPPRD in the event that:
A. the LPPRD breaches any term or condition in the Memorandum of Agreement, and said breach remains for a period longer than 15 days from receipt of the DNR's written notification of said breach by the LPPRD, unless other arrangements are made between DNR and LPPRD.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, DNR and the LPPRD have caused this memorandum to be executed in their respective names by their respective duly authorized representatives.
STATE OF WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
By
Ronald W. Kazmierczak Dated
Lake Puckaway Protection and Rehabilitation District
By
District Chair Dated