May 14th CLPS Update Show me the MONEY! Rain Gardens, Mercy High and More! NOTICE: This update is long, but there is so much happening, I wanted you all to know about it! CLPS Meeting May, 11, 2006 ------------------------------------ Over 85 people filled the library to hear special guests: Harold Flatoen, Engineer from Omaha Public Works; David Roth, Director of Planning and Engineering Services from Eppley Airport Authority; and Dale Jacobson, Professional Engineer from Jacobson Helgoth. The information these three shared was historical as well as informative. They helped put the storm water management and airport construction into perspective. Dale Jacobson fielded many questions from the audience about how the airport and city construction interact with the lake drainage. Omaha Councilman, Jim Suttle, added his understanding of the issues as well. The meeting was video taped so you can see the reruns on the blue screen (Carter Lake Public access channel Cox 22) sometime in the next couple of weeks. We are also hoping to have someone capture the highlights of the meeting and have the information posted to our web site: carterlakepreservation.org. $163,000 from Pottawattamie County -------------------------------------------- Pottawattamie County has contributed $163,000 to the City of Carter Lake to help them complete their shore projects on the south shore of the lake (Iowa side). Check the web site for specifics about the Carter Lake Shore improvements. $50,000 from Iowa DNR ------------------------------ Mike McGhee, from the DNR in Des Moines, came to Carter Lake on Thursday, May 11. Before the meeting he toured the lake with Mayor Kramer, Carter Lake City Council members, Ron Rothmeyer, Jan Petersen and Jeanne Eibes. Mike McGhee saw first hand what we are planning on the south shore of the lake. At the Preservation Society meeting, Mike McGhee stated that he will try to carve out some of the $50,000 from the allocation to help fund the current Carter Lake projects for lake armament and construction plans. The remaining money from the $50,000 allocation will be used for a Carter Lake Improvement feasibility study and restoration plan. Mike McGhee admitted that our project is unique as well as challenging because Carter Lake is an urban lake shared by multiple governing bodies. $12,500 from Iowa West Foundation -------------------------------------------- First Quarter, 2006, the Iowa West Foundation awarded $12,500 to the City of Carter Lake for a project to remove a 6 foot sidewalk and replace it with an 8 foot sidewalk along the Carter Lake Club shoreline to Avenue Q. The wider sidewalk will accommodate the trail system along the lake shore. This project included $12,500 matching from the City of Carter Lake Additional Funding from the City of Carter Lake ---------------------------------------------------------- The City of Carter Lake is providing much of the man power to do many lake shore projects this year. The total funding dollars and in kind contributions provided by the City of Carter Lake will be posted to the Carterlakepreservation.org web site soon. Rain Garden Demonstration and Installation Workshop – Wednesday, June 7, 2006 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Free workshop on building rain gardens will be at 305 McKenzie in Council Bluffs from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Wednesday, June 7, 2006. You can come and go as your schedule permits during the day. This program will be a classroom instruction as well as outdoor hands on installation of three rain gardens. If you can, please go to this workshop so you can help build the rain gardens in Carter Lake Club Park this fall. For more information, contact: West Pott Co. Soil and Water Conservation District: 712-328-2489 ext. 3. Rocks and Rain Gardens ------------------------------ The City of Carter Lake will be creating areas for 5 rain gardens along the lake shore this year. The Carter Lake Preservation Society is asking for volunteers to help build and maintain these rain gardens in Carter Lake. If you are interested in helping to build and maintain these gardens please plan on going to the workshop on June 7 (see notice above) then, contact Jeanne Eibes at Carterlake@hotmail.com. April 26th Meeting with Technical Resources ------------------------------------------------------ The following individuals meet at Bass Pro Shops on April 26th to discuss how they can work together in developing the watershed planning process for Carter Lake. Steve Tonn, Extension Educator - Omaha Metro Area Lakes Paul Brakhage, Nebraska Dept. of Environmental Quality Terry Hickman, Nebraska Dept. of Environmental Quality Kevin Seevers, West Pottawattomie Soil and Water Conservation District Mark Porath, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Pat Slaven, Omaha Parks, Recreation and Public Property Dept. Brad Richardson, West Pottawattomie County Extension These people are moving forward in forming the group that will help with the watershed development plan for both sides of the lake. We are still looking for an active sponsor for the Nebraska side of the lake. Julie and Larry Curd and the 2006 Clean Up Newsletter ------------------------------------------------------------------ Julie and Larry Curd have the draft of the eight page newsletter covering the clean up. This will also include a promotional pull out piece about the work we are doing with the Preservation Society. This newsletter will knock your socks off! It is GREAT! Julie and Larry have done a great job! The Gallup Organization will be helping with the printing costs. We hope to have the newsletter completed in the next few weeks. All the volunteers for the clean up and the sponsors will be getting a copy. Mercy High School “Day of Sharing” ------------------------------------------ On Monday, May 8th, 200 freshman and sophomore girls came in five school busses to clean trash from Levi Carter Park and the Lake. They collected 200 bags of trash. It is amazing how much energy it takes to keep our lake clean. The Carter Lake Preservation Society sent them a nice thank you and money for an ice cream treat at lunch time. Carterlakepreservation.org Web Site is informative ------------------------------------------------------------ Check out the web site. Mark Eibes, the web master, is keeping the site updated as events happen. Book mark this page as one of your favorites and tell your friends about it. Donations are now being accepted ----------------------------------------- The Carter Lake Preservation Society has a 2006 fund raising goal to raise $200,000 in private funds from individuals and lake property owners. This money will be used as a match for grant applications to pay for the lake recharge solution. We need your financial support in two ways… as a member and as a capital contributor. Please make your donation now. These funds will be used in 2006-2007 to build the lake recharge solution. You can find the donation form on the web site at carterlakepreservation.org. Send your donation and membership now to Joan Harder at 1018 Shoal Drive, Carter Lake, Iowa 51510.