JACKSON LAKE CLOSES FOR RENOVATION PROJECT

JACKSON -- Renovation of the heavily-silted, algae-covered Jackson Rotary Lake was to begin today when Jackson Park Department employees open a valve to draw down its water level.

The lake, which was built in the mid-1970s, is in the main city park west of the swimming pool.

On Tuesday afternoon the Jackson Optimist Club sponsored a fishing derby for children at the lake. It was the last of fishing in the lake for at least three-and-one-half years, or until fish to be restocked have grown to maturity.

When work is completed, fish habitat and fishing should improve. Several feet of accumulated nutrient-rich sediment will be removed. Other work will make the lake more accessible to handicapped fishermen.

Ward 2 Alderman David Reiminger, chairman of the Rotary Lake Improvement Committee, said: "It will take several days for the lake level to drop 5 to 6 feet. At that point, probably on Friday, the drain will be closed for the weekend. On Monday, personnel from the Missouri Department of Conservation will come in and electroshock the lake to stun the fish in the water.

"The fish will be removed from Rotary Lake and taken to the Litz Lake, the County park lakes, and some smaller impoundments in the area."

Reiminger said: "After the fish have been removed the drain will be reopened Tuesday morning and the rest of the water will be allowed to drain out. The lake should be completely drained around the middle of next week. This will give contractors who want to bid on the lake renovation a two-week period to look at the lake bottom to see what kind of a job it will be."

Reiminger said bids for removal of the sediment will be opened at city hall on June 8 at 3 p.m.

He said it should take about one-and-one-half to two weeks for a contractor to remove all of the sediment on the bottom. It consists of soil washed into the lake and droppings from ducks and geese that live on the lake.

"The exact amount of sediment removed will vary according to the different areas of the lake," said Reiminger. "In some parts of the lake -- for example, the north end near West Independence -- the sediment is several feet deep; closer to the dam it's only about 2 feet deep. All of the sediment will be removed down to the water-tight clay bowl on the lake bottom."

When constructed, the lake depth ranged from 8-10 feet. It's still that deep near the dam, but the buildup of sediment has reduced the middle of the lake to between 4 and 5 feet and its north end to only 2-3 feet.

The shallow water allows sunlight to reach the sediment, promoting growth of algae on the surface. When the sediment is removed it will increase the overall depth to 7-8 feet and eliminate the excess algae.

Said Reiminger: "The actual work to remove the sediment shouldn't take more than two weeks. After it has been removed the lake bed will be allowed to dry out the rest of the summer. In September we'll begin refilling the lake. If Mother Nature cooperates, we could restock the lake with young, fingerling fish this fall. If there isn't enough water this fall, we'll have to wait and restock the lake next spring.

"Once the lake is restocked, we estimate it will be closed to all fishing for at least three-and-one-half years to allow the young fish to grow to maturity. We're going to place signs around the lake asking that people not put large fish such as catfish or largemouth bass in the lake with the younger fish. The larger fish will eat the smaller fish and upset the pattern of growth and throw the balance of nature in the lake all out of whack."

Reiminger said while the lake is dry structures will be placed on the bottom to serve as fish habitat.

The lake renovation project is funded by a Missouri Department of Conservation community assistance grant of $36,000 and local matching funds and in-kind services provided by the city of Jackson.

City Administrator Carl Talley said the exact amount of the city's financial contribution won't be determined until the lake renovation bids are opened next month. "I would estimate it will be about a 50-50 split between cash and in-kind services," said Talley

In addition to removal of sediment from the 3.2-acre lake bed, the project includes:

-- Bank stabilization work to prevent soil erosion into the lake.

-- Construction of a 20-by-8-foot T-shaped wooden fishing pier extending into the lake to make it accessible to handicapped people, including those in wheelchairs.

-- Construction of a winding wheelchair ramp from the lake parking lot to the fishing pier.

-- Renovation of park restrooms near the lake to make them accessible to handicapped people.

-- Renovation of a half-mile walking-exercise track around the lake.

Talley said the walking track renovation will be done last.

He said: "Since the walking track was built in the 1970s, it has really gotten a lot of use and is in need of renovation. We're asking folks who use the walking track to bear with us this summer while the work is going on. By next year at this time the lake and track should all be back to normal."