Brief History of Library Lake Restoration In 2008, a committee was formed by the BDLMD commissioners to create a Library Lake – Lake Management Plan that would address the many aspects of Restoring Library Lake to what the lake was 60 or more years ago. The  Management Plan was approved in Jan. 2010 and on Oct. 25, 2010 the plan was presented to the community. An advisory referendum vote of those present to authorize continuing forward with a 2.4 million dollars Build America bond failed by over 3 “no” to 1 “yes” vote. The committee needed to rethink and re-imagine the plan, to gain acceptance from the voters before continuing the restoration project.

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For the past 14 years the Restoration of Library Lake has been systematically and meticulously progressing with over $1.5 million dollars in Grants from the WDNR to address the 11 storm water outfalls going into the Lake. Eliminating the direct runoff of storm water into Library Lake was a prerequisite before the WDNR would even consider removing/dredging the invasive cattails and sediment from the lake. With the pending completion of the SE Storm water Park, the last of the large storm water outfalls entering the Library Lake, the BDLMD was positioned to apply for a Dredging permit. 

 

Since 2021 the Lake District has been working with the WDNR to obtain the necessary permits to dredge areas of Library Lake. On Feb. 5, 2024 the final permit was obtained that allows for removal of the Cattail and sediment from the South shoreline and sediment from along the north shoreline of Library Lake. During late Sept. 2024 a dam will be built blocking the channel under the Grove Street Bridge. By Oct.1st, Library Lake will be lowered about 5 ft. in preparation for the dredging during the winter months of 2025.

Opting not to use tax dollars to cover the cost of the dredging, the BDLMD Board approved forming a Library Lake Restoration/Dredging fund raising committee. The Committee’s responsibility is to explore, develop and execute the necessary means to raise the estimated $550,000 cost to remove the permitted cattail and sediment from the Lake.

Besides several public sponsored events, a raffle was developed and is being promoted, an appropriate Recognition Board for large donations was designed, a Banner drawing attention to the Restoring Library Lake was designed, constructed and placed around Cumberland, and a “handout” was created to help inform the community.

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For additional information, please refer to the April 10, 2024 “a View from the Lake” article, last year’s Annual Letter and at the BDLMD website beaverdamlake.org. Please donate now in person at Cumberland Federal Bank, by mail to BDLMD, P.O. Box 232, Cumberland, WI. 54829, or through Venmo. Venmo can be accessed through the Venmo app, or by using your cell phone camera and pointing at the QR Code. The Venmo website should appear on your phone. Stocks can be donated by contacting Matt Gores at Edward Jones – phone number 715-822-2822 or your financial advisor. The BDLMD Fed. IRS TIN# 39- 1706085.

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For over 14 years the Cumberland community has been watching and supporting the transformation of the land around Library Lake. Many residents remember the building that housed TV Anderson’s business that then became an antique shop and the three dilapidated houses that were rental properties before they were demolished to make way for the SE Strom water pond/park. The Witte property that once was known as the Harley Motorcycle Shop was purchased by the BDLMD and demolished as part of the SW Storm water pond. When shopping or eating at various restaurants and bars, many people passing through Cumberland have commented about the improvement to the image of Cumberland’s Downtown. The Library Lake Restoration has required many hours of work by many people that included frustrating and time consuming meetings and negotiations as well as costly testing and disappointing delays. But we have persevered and NOW is the opportunity to achieve the goal that was set 14 years ago. Now is the time for all area residents, not just Cumberland or Lake District residents, to show their support by donating to the Library Lake Restoration fund goal of $550,000. Please make a donation whether small or large to meet the goal of Restoring Library Lake.

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Information about Library Lake

Library Lake is a 12.8-acre lake located in the City of Cumberland (T35N R13W S7) in Northwest Wisconsin (WBIC 2081500). A map of the project area is shown in Figure 1. Library Lake is connected to Beaver Dam Lake by a box culvert under Grove Street. Aquatic plants cover nearly the entire lake bottom with emergent plants along the shoreline and in shallow water; floating plants at moderate depths; and submerged vegetation in the deepest water. The maximum lake depth is approximately 20.5 feet at normal water levels.

The lake is entirely surrounded by urban development with Highway 63 on its south side, homes on the west and north side, and parking lots and businesses on the east. The east parking area is a major connection to downtown Cumberland serving the newly remodeled public library, taverns and restaurants, retail establishments, and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) offices.

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