Lake Manager’s Report – February 2023
1. The surface of Wonder Lake has been known to occasionally produce a phenomenon known as “ice”. If you happen to come across any, please use caution.
1. The surface of Wonder Lake has been known to occasionally produce a phenomenon known as “ice”. If you happen to come across any, please use caution.
FISHING DERBY POSTPONED
Due to unsafe ice conditions, the Sportsman Club has postponed the Ice Fishing Derby to the 19th of February. If the weather does not cooperate in thickening the ice, then the plan is to have the raffle at Alibi's. To Read more, please download the Newsletter (pdf)
1. Lake users are reminded that with the deeper water now present in the dredged portions of the lake, and the recent variations in temperature, ice formation on the lake this winter may be variable. Please use caution when on the lake unless you are positive of safe ice conditions.
RESIDENT’S LETTER In an effort to create an improved communications link with the Wonder Lake Area, the MPOA Officers and Board of Directors are initiating a newsletter that hopefully will continue on a monthly basis. The purpose is to bring the community up to date on lake and watershed issues that have an impact on our lake and the role of the MPOA in addressing matters specific to our lake and dam. To Read more, please download the Newsletter (pdf)
1. With our on-again off-again winter, it’s uncertain when the Lake will develop "safe" ice. As such, this is a good time to remind winter lake users (and particularly children) about the need to exercise particular care and caution when venturing out on the ice when it does form. On the following page is some information on General Ice Thickness Guidelines. The MPOA website (wlmpoa.org) also has a video posted on how someone falling through the ice can perform a "self-rescue". https://youtu.be/QKpAzvXSldA
1. The annual inspection of the Wonder Lake Dam and Sediment Drying Facility required by the State of Illinois is scheduled for Friday, October 14th, 2022.
2. As always, with autumn approaching, Wonder Lake landowners with lakefront or streamfront properties are strongly encouraged to NOT rake their leaves into the water, as this can create a significant nutrient load, fueling future algae blooms. Please consider composting raked leaves or utilizing available landscape waste disposal services.
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1. The MPOA contractor has completed the concrete repairs to the vertical wingwalls of the Wonder Lake dam spillway. These repairs to fix deteriorating (spalling) concrete surfaces were required based on an inspection by the MPOA structural engineer. This repair work required the installation of temporary work platforms below the spillway to allow access for repairs, which have since been removed.
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1. The MPOA has received the report from the MPOA structural engineer detailing their recommendations on the location and extent of needed surface concrete repairs on the vertical sidewalls of the dam spillway. Interestingly, while most of the wingwall surface on the east side of the spillway has significantly deteriorated and needs extensive repair, the west wingwall surface only needs some spot repairs.
1. We are still waiting for the MPOA structural engineer to produce their report and recommendations on the location and extent of needed concrete repairs on the vertical sidewalls.
2. We are still waiting for the Village of Wonder Lake permit for the Merchant Creek footbridge.
3. Preliminary discussions continue with a soil vendor who has expressed an interest in buying the dried sediment from the lake dredging project.
4. A request for proposal to conduct our annual state required inspections of the dam and Sediment Drying Facility this fall has been sent out.
1. As part of the on-going repairs to the Wonder Lake Dam spillway, the MPOA structural engineer conducted an examination to determine the location and extent of needed concrete repairs on the vertical sidewalls. Temporarya scaffolding was installed to allow for this inspection, as well as to facilitate the actual repair work. Coordination is now taking place between the concrete contractor and the project structural engineer on the type of concrete material to be used for the spillway wingwall patching.