Accomplishments
The Lake Management District has many accomplishments to date. These include:
2023
McCormick + Etten hired to prepare schematic designs for the clubhouse.
Water Safety Patrol implemented use of body cameras.
2022
New Aquarius harvester and trailer delivered.
Don Jean Bay Shoreline restoration phase 1 and phase 2 were completed.
Dam inspection report 2022(see documents-Lake and water).
Golf course equipment purchases, used mower and used sprayer.
Constructed concrete material bins adjoining maintenance building.
2021
DNR awarded grant to partially fund new harvester and weed hauling trailer. Ordered new harvester and trailer from Aquarius systems (March).
Water shed study 2021(see documents-Lake and water).
Clubhouse exterior and structural remediation.
Municipal Land Planning Committee formed.
Completed golf course sand trap restoration program.
Adopted revised Town of La Grange & Town of Sugar Creek Pier Ordinance (see ordinance under documents).
Install concrete golf cart path between holes #4 and #5.
2020
DNR issued 5-year mechanical harvesting permit June 3, 2020.
Install new irrigation system pumps.
Install safer entries to clubhouse and perform structural repairs.
2019
Existing dam structure was retrofitted to safely redirect water flow. New fence was installed providing better safety and access.
DNR awarded grant to revise aquatic plant management plan.
SEWRPC performed a full lake aquatic plant sampling and updated aquatic plant management plan. (See documents-weed and plant management).
2018
Sterlingworth townhomes properties are atop an earthen dam adjoining the lake district dam. The DNR required that the Lake District attain an easement to maintain this earthen dam. This required easement executed and recorded.
2017
Golf course rain shelters were rebuilt by a generous donation.
Long-range plan design team prepares and issues property inventory, analysis, and assessment of current conditions and recommendations of future uses. (See documents/long-range planning).
Kehoe - Henry architects prepare schematic design alternatives for clubhouse replacement and golf course modifications.
Held Public meetings to review proposed clubhouse alternatives and the preferences of attendees. Majority of attendees preferred option “B”. The golf course committee recommended option “B” be presented at annual meeting.
At annual meeting option “B” was presented with the cost of $3,824,950. This proposed building was defeated 415 votes to 205 votes.
2016
Develop criteria desired for long range planning studies: research and contract with experts to perform the inventory and analysis of existing infrastructures and long-range planning options.
Existing dam is considered unsafe and hazardous; dam modifications were engineered to safely redirect the water flow. Retrofit engineering drawings were prepared and bid awarded.
Golf course Oversight committee established.
2015
Aquatic plant management plan update was issued; district obtained a DNR 5-year mechanical harvesting permit.
Work to fix the leak at Sterlingworth was completed.
Purchased Reed property along Country Club Drive adjoining clubhouse.
University of Wisconsin, urban planning department, organize, and compiled long range planning survey and results.
2014
The golf course loan was paid off in December, 2 years early; the golf course is fully self-sustaining.
Aquatic plants survey at 1740 locations on the lake to provide the required data to update the lakes aquatic plant management plan.
Sterlingworth Bay was leaking through Earthen dam at townhouses. Engineering investigations performed and remediation performed as appropriate.
2012
With the generous contributions of Mr. Lawrence Myers, the Golf Course’s historic water tower was fully restored and gardens with a water feature were installed. The area provides a quiet park-like setting which has been the home to a number of parties and weddings.
The golf course, which had long been an Audubon Society member, began participation in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses.
Before and after...
2011
Towns of LaGrange and Sugar Creek began the process of delegating pier inspection responsibilities to the Lake District.
2010
Continued restoration of wetlands including extensive native plantings. The Aquatic Plant Management Plan was issued by SEWRPC.
2009
Budget was -22.85% lower than previous year.
Completed 2-year project to replace culverts on the lake.
Paid off loan on Lake View property (4 years early) and converted the property to a Community Center for the use by a variety of lake organizations.
Initiated Clean Boats Clean Waters (CBCW) DNR program.
Actions were undertaken to fix the “Leak in the Lake”.
2008
Project undertaken to replace the culverts on the lake.
Aquatic plant survey taken to develop a plant management plan for the lakes.
2007
In cooperation with the USDA Wildlife Services, began annual non-migratory goose capture program which has helped to clean the lake and lands around it.
2006
Constructed new operations building at the Lauderdale Lakes Country Club Golf Course that transformed operations for the golf course and weed harvesting programs.
Created joint Water Patrol with the Town of LaGrange.
Before and after...
2004
Refinanced Golf Course loan with plans to pay off the entire loan 2 years early.
2003
Implemented wetlands restoration project on wetlands property adjoining the Golf Course in Don Jean Bay and established biological buffer using bio-logs.
Placed sections of the Golf Course property into a conservation easement with the Kettle Moraine Land Trust.
2002
Replaced the antiquated fueling system at the golf course operations building with a new system that is much safer and fully up to code.
Before and after...
2001
Created Water Patrol; reconstituted in 2002. Currently patrol Lauderdale Lakes and Pleasant Lake with 3 boats and 18 Wisconsin certified law enforcement officers.
Purchased a 6.5 acre wetland for $100,000. This property adjoins the golf course property and has about 700 feet of shoreline. The primary purpose for purchasing this parcel was because this is a primary environmental corridor providing excellent habitat and acts as an excellent filter for surface run-off. An additional benefit of this ownership is that it provides a place to moor the Lake District's weed harvesting equipment, Water Patrol boat and provides a site for the water ski team to practice and perform and provides public access to enjoy scenic beauty.
2000
Purchased a lot in the Gladhurst subdivision on the north side of Green Lake for the purpose of reducing non-point surface run-off entering our lakes. A large detention pond was constructed on this site to capture surface run-off water allowing it to gradually perk into the pond instead of running into the lake through an established tributary.
Project Costs: Land Acquisition $40,000, Construction $98,500. A Wisconsin DNR lake protection grant reimbursed 75% of the expenses.
Entered into a long-term lease with a local farmer and constructed a detention pond to reduce surface run-off water from entering the lakes. This detention pond is north of Green Lake.
Construction Cost: approximately $10,000 75% of which was reimbursed by a Wisconsin DNR lake protection grant.
Entered into an agreement with Mr. Russ Keske, a local farmer in the southern portion of the watershed to plant grasses on about 3/4 acre of his farm field. The grasses help trap sediments and nutrients from surface run-off before it can enter our lakes.
Engaged the USGS to conduct surface run-off analysis including lake water quality monitoring, a lawn run-off study and tributary monitoring. The USGS expenses are cost-shared by the Department of the Interior and Wisconsin DNR grant monies.
1999
Purchased Lake View property adjoining the Golf Course for $255,000. This property was eventually converted from a single family home rental to a Community Center utilized by a variety of lake organizations.
1998
Obtained a lake protection grant from the Wisconsin DNR in the amount of $164,250.
Scott Mason was selected for and graduated from the 9-day training curriculum of the Lake Leaders Institute with the Crew I. The Institute and its graduates concentrate on enhancing Wisconsin’s lake resources through leadership, training, and civic engagement. The institute focuses on lake ecology, watershed management, shore land development, user conflicts, funding, and organizational procedures.
1997
Rezoned the golf course property from Multifamily (R4) to Park (P-1) and combined multiple tax keys. Eventually placed sections of the property in a conservation easement (2003).
1996
Purchased the Lauderdale Lakes Country Club nine-hole golf course. The community voted overwhelmingly for this acquisition to head-off development of condominiums on this property (zoned R-4 at the time) and the resulting loss of open space, additional piers and increasing boat density on the lake. The Lake District continues to operate this property as a daily fee public golf course.
1994
The USGS prepared a report based on work titled "Hydrology & Water Quality of Lauderdale Lakes." An interesting conclusion of this reports indicated that 51% of the total phosphorous entering the lakes is from non-point run-off and 25% from septic systems.
1993
Contracted with the USGS a comprehensive lake water quality study to analyze the Lauderdale Lakes watershed. This project included preparing a water budget and data to facilitate the development of a waste water management plan to limit the amount of phosphorous entering the lake.
1992
Purchased aquatic plant management equipment for $200,000 with the assistance of Wisconsin Waterways Commission Grant.
Began Lake District sponsored septic pumping program lake-wide.1991
Lake District was formed in February, 1991 by Walworth County under Wisconsin State Statute Chapter 33.
Engaged R. A. Smith engineering consultants to perform on-site inspections of every lake front septic system. This project identified several failed systems which were likely polluting the lakes. This project resulted in repairing and/or replacing each of the failed systems.
Began aquatic plant harvesting program with leased equipment.
Obtained a lake planning grant from the Wisconsin DNR.
