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Delavan Lake Watershed Partnership

For Immediate Release

Contact: Jerry Petersen, President, Kettle Moraine Land Trust
               (262) 742-2367, garwood2@elknet.net
               Gail Swaine, Administrator, Delavan Lake Sanitary District
               (262) 728-4100, gail@dlsd.org

Delavan WIN 2030: Collaborative Watershed Initiative to Protect and
Preserve Lake Health

November 5, 2009 - Town of Delavan, WI - The Delavan Lake Sanitary District (DLSD) and the Kettle Moraine Land Trust (KMLT) are pleased to announce the launch of a collaborative watershed improvement and mitigation project for Delavan Lake - the Delavan Watershed Initiative 2030. This multi-year partnership is aimed at reducing the contaminated runoff entering Delavan Lake. Jerry Petersen said: "Watershed-wide management is where it's at for a lake like Delavan. We look forward to a successful endeavor at that scale."

Over 20 years ago a group of dedicated lake advocates from local, State and Federal organizations and agencies came together to accomplish a major rehabilitation project for Delavan Lake. Upon the completion of this $7 million project, the commitment was made to put major effort into addressing the source of pollutants and sediments, which were and are degrading the lake. The Delavan WIN 2030 project represents that commitment.

Many groups in the Delavan Lake community have recognized that until pollution coming into the lake is addressed at its source, we will be continuing to treat symptoms rather than working toward a sustainable cure. The DLSD understands the challenge, and decided to take the lead in contracting with KMLT to launch this watershed project.

The work ahead of us will require strong alliances among those interested in the health and beauty of Delavan Lake. The DLSD and KMLT will be actively soliciting engagement from the municipalities and citizens within the watershed.

This watershed project will involve identification of watershed pollution sources, education about the range of potential solutions, and bringing land owners, tenants, and funding sources to the table to implement those solutions.

Gail Swaine, Administrator of the DLSD, and Jerry Petersen, President of the KMLT, will be working closely together to guide this historic effort. The KMLT is currently searching for an experienced professional to manage the effort.

The DLSD, in its role managing sewage in the Delavan Lake watershed, has recognized the need to shift toward a watershed view of managing lake pollution. The KMLT, through its merger with the Walworth County Land Conservancy, is the owner and caretaker of Jackson Creek Reserve, a critical parcel protecting a major tributary of Delavan Lake. KMLT also holds numerous easements in the area, and is an experienced organization in private land conservation.

About the Delavan Lake Sanitary District: The mission of the Delavan Lake Sanitary District is to operate, maintain and upgrade the sanitary sewer collection system; to continue with current aquatic plant management activities; and to build alliances with select partners to implement successful lake management practices.

About the Kettle Moraine Land Trust: The Kettle Moraine Land Trust's mission is to preserve the natural heritage of the southern Kettle Moraine lakes area and nearby lands through partnerships in land conservancy and resource management.

Coming Soon

Delavan Lake Watershed Partnership