Oxboro Lake Maintenance

The work at Oxboro Lake is on pause until frost is out of the ground and we get into the growing season. The snow melt has filled the lake bed back up to the level it was at before construction began. The areas that were disturbed for lake access have been sprayed with hydromulch to control erosion. The remaining work includes:

• Tree plantings
• Seeding using native seed mix around the lake itself and regular turf mix at the small park areas
• Removal of the temporary patch at the end of the cul-de-sac and permanent repairs made.

With our 2022 Storm Sewer Maintenance Project, we will also be repairing the outlet control structure, which should have been holding the water level at a DNR-authorized elevation of 803. With last year’s drought and the deterioration of the outlet, the water level of Oxboro has been at least 1 foot lower than it should be. We are planning to do this work later in the year to give the new grass seed time to establish strong roots before some of it is submerged.

The warm weather yesterday caused more delays than planned. Hauling will now occur on Monday.

Hauling from Oxboro Lake will begin this Thursday and continue as weather permits. During this time, there will be increased truck traffic. Residents are reminded to drive carefully, as they are traveling in a construction zone.

After a couple weeks of preparation, the contractor at Oxboro Lake ramped up operations this week. Tree removal is nearly complete, with the exception of a few scattered trees away from the main groupings. The trees are being shredded on site and will be reused to build haul roads down to the lake. A few trees are being saved that will be placed in the pond for habitat roosts once the excavation work is done.

Several residents have noted the presence of bald eagles in the area, so staff contacted the US Fish & Wildlife Service to discuss ways to minimize disruption. The Migratory Bird office explained that eagles have become quite accustomed to human activities and did not consider our work too disruptive given the short duration of our work.

Next week, the contractor will build the haul roads and start excavating sediment. Hauling is estimated to continue through the end of February, if below-freezing temperatures persist.

Crews plan to begin tree removals the week of January 3^rd, weather permitting. Pond excavation will begin soon after trees are removed.

Crews continue dewatering Oxboro Lake and preparing construction access roads. Tree removals should begin the week of December 27 with pond excavation still scheduled for after the first of the year.

Crews will begin dewatering Oxboro Lake this week to expose the pond sediments to freezing temperatures, which will begin to solidify the material for easier handling. Next week the process of tree removal will begin. The contractor is planning to construct access roads after tree removals are complete and then begin pond excavation after the first of the year.

A contractor has been selected using the public bidding process and the contract is being routed for signatures. The contractor is working on a detailed construction schedule that will be available by December 1^st. Please check back for more information then.

We'd like to share the progress on Oxboro Lake Improvements. Look to this section for updates on the project.