Proposed Lucerne Park Shoreline restoration project

WARSAW — A shoreline restoration project at Lucerne Park, Pike Lake, was tabled Monday morning during the Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety. The matter will be brought up at a future meeting with more information.

Theresa Sailor, storm water coordinator, stated the utility evaluated all city owned properties over the summer, identifying over 4,000 linear feet of eroded soils along the waterways of ditches and lakes. The shoreline at Lucerne Park, along Pike Lake, is one of the most heavily eroded areas, and the most heavily used. She proposed the restoration of 200 feet of shoreline in the park, to reduce the amount of sediment and nutrients going into the lake. This would be a joint project between the parks department and the storm water utility.

Larry Plummer, parks superintendent, stated erosion is the problem at every park on the lake, but this area was chosen because of its value to the public. That particular shoreline is popular for weddings, fishing and other activities. The proposed restoration method would allow continued fishing, wedding photographs and muti-use, instead of high grass where it could not be used. “It would be a good trial area,” Plummer stated

Sailor presented the proposal chosen from Heartland Restoration Services, Fort Wayne. A coir log would be placed along the shoreline, containing plants instead of seed to reduce the time for the native plants to mature. There would also be a rock outcropping of large flat-topped boulders to be used for a photographing area, fishing or a resting place by the lake. The rest of the shoreline will have native plants with deep root systems. These plants would not be mowed, but serve as a thick border of grasses around the lake that resist erosion and help deter goose congregation.

It was noted the coir logs are biodegradable, taking three to five years to disappear, giving ample time for the plants to take root. In this particular case the chosen plants will be added to the coir log and grown over winter in a greenhouse. The logs would be installed in the spring of 2016 with the boulders installed during the fall of 2016.

It was noted this area would be a pilot project and used to educate the public on pollution reduction of sediment and nutrients and the positive enhancements native vegetation and buffer plantings can provide. If successful, the parks department and storm water utility will be able to look to continuing to reduce areas lost to erosion.

The cost of the project is $37,500. Sailor noted this would be the more expensive project and the only area where rocks would be used. Bio engineered sea walls would be used in other locations. The money would come from the storm water fund.

She noted a permit would be required from the DNR.

Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer questioned if there was any type of warranty on the material’s performance. While there is a one-year warranty, Sailor stated she could obtain more details to what that warranty would cover and it it would cover the plants.

He stated a similar project was planned years ago at Nye Park, however state funding fell through. “There are several shores on Center and Pike lakes that really need restored. We have lost 20 feet to 30 feet of shoreline.”