August 22, 2006 Update: Filling the Lake, Raising the Funds, Watershed Planning, World O! Water Festival – Sept. 17 and Good news about our Not for Profit Application Fill the Lake by 2008 ---------------------------- We are looking at low cost solutions for finding quality water to fill the lake. There are various options and projects that will put water in the lake. Some of the options include testing available wells and/or placing new wells near the lake. Peter Parkert will help gather information about various alternatives and work with the cities of Carter Lake and Omaha to determine if we can start pumping water into the lake this fall. Next CLPS Meeting - Thursday, September 14 at 7:00 PM at the Carter Lake Library ---------------------------------------------------------- * Pat O'Brien from the Nebraska DEQ will tell us about TMDL Studies (Total Maximum Daily Load). This information will be used in developing the long range plan for Carter Lake.   * We will also be discussing alternative projects and recommendations for getting water into the lake to “Fill the Lake by 2008”. Fund Raising for Filling the Lake – Starts NOW --------------------------------------------- We are starting our fund raising campaign to pay for the studies and various alternatives to start getting quality water into the lake. We need your help to raise the money to pay for the testing and pumping solutions. The Carter Lake Preservation Society will be funding the project(s). The donations need to be made before we start the projects. Come to Jeanne Eibes’ house (107 Shoal Drive in Carter Lake) on Tuesday, August 29 at 7:00 PM to volunteer to help raise the funds to start filling the lake. Good news about our Not for Profit Application --------------------------------------------- The IRS has reviewed our “not for profit” application and asked additional questions about our submission. Once we send in our answers, we will have the designation as a tax deductible charitable organization. This designation will give us opportunity to apply for corporate foundation grants and receive corporate gift matching from individuals who work for companies that match individual contributions. Carter Lake Watershed Planning Meetings are scheduled ------------------------------------------------------ Plan to attend two Watershed Management Planning Public Meetings for Carter Lake. The meetings will ber Thursday, October 5, 2006 and Tuesday, October 24, 2006 at the Carter Lake Elementary School from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. These meetings are important for all of you to provide stakeholder feedback… everyone who gets this email is a stakeholder in the lake’s future. Make sure you come to these meeting to provide your input and ideas. What’s happening on the LAKE? --------------------------------- * The rainfall in the past few weeks has brought the lake up 6 to 8 inches. The Coronado Keys canal is open so homeowners in that area can put their boats on the lake. You can also get a boat into the newly dredged lagoon by Maybrey Park. * However, the rain slowed the work on the shoreline in Carter Lake Club Park. After the fill and grading is done, new dirt and rip rap will then be added. The rain gardens will be planted in the spring. We all thank the Carter Lake Maintenance Department for working so hard in the heat and dirt! * The blue-green algae levels are staying well below the health alert level to under 5 parts per billion. * A lone banded king fisher bird was sited and there is a family of four blue herons. It is fun to watch the herons swallow the whole fish. * There is a solid white goose and one with only one wing floating in the reeds around the lake. World O! Water Festival – Sept. 17 ---------------------------------------------- Keep Omaha Beautiful and the Papillion Creek Watershed Partnership will be sponsoring the second World O! Water Festival on Sunday, Sept. 17. 12 Noon to 4:00 p.m. at Chalco Hills at Wehrspann Lake, 8901 154th Street, Omaha. This is fun and educational event for the entire family. Games, free lunch, skits, animal presentations, canoe and kayak demonstrations, informational booths and educational sessions relating to water will be offered. The event is free. The Carter Lake Preservation Society will be at World O! to raise awareness and attention to the needs of our lake.