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Shoreline project moves ahead

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MANAWA – The shoreline stabilization project is set to move forward, despite a slight push back from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Ann Bonikowske, a first-ward alderperson, said the DNR was concerned that the project would disrupt fish movement and spawning for sturgeon, walleye and panfish.
The shore stabilization is needed in order to stop the erosion at the Sturm Memorial Library and Kobussen shorelines, which was due to the historic flooding July 5 that caused the dam to breach.
The Manawa City Council pursued a grant through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that would alleviate the bulk of the cost of stabilizing the shorelines at the Sturm Memorial Library and Kobussen.
Bonikowske said the time frames most important to spawning and movement for fish is between Oct 15 and May 15; however, waiting to stabilize the shore until after that timeframe could result in the loss of the grant from the USDA as it expires April 25.
Mayor Mike Frazier said at the Jan. 20 common council meeting that representatives from the DNR, USDA and Cedar Corporation met, along with Frazier and Josh Smith, head of the Department of Public Works, on Jan. 14 to discuss getting the permit and the project up and running as soon as they can.
During this meeting, Frazier said the representatives from the USDA and Cedar Corporation were able to get the DNR to budge on their time frames and allow the project to move forward prior to the grant deadline.
“I’ll tell you what … they didn’t back down,” Frazier said of the meeting. “They wanted to get this done because all of us know that spring here, between snow and runoff and we get rain with that, you’re going to have more damage to that river and the wildlife and then the fishing.”
“Before the project starts there is a small amount of the river bottom that will need to be excavated,” said Brandon Strehlow, a representative from Cedar Corporation, the city’s engineering contractor.
The excavation is needed in order to create space for the rock riprap foundational pieces; these pieces will be used to stabilize the shoreline.
Strehlow said the excavation portion of the project will need to be completed by March 1, per the language in the DNR permit.
The rip rap will go about four feet below the water surface and 18 feet above. The contract is currently in the bidding process and construction is anticipated to start by late February.

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