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MPOA7602 Hancock DriveWonder Lake, Illinois 60097

PRSRT STDUS POSTAGE PAIDWONDER LAKE, ILPERMIT NO. 6

The MPOA has received the Illinois Department of Natural Resources permit for the Greenwood Road Sediment Drying Facility (SDF) and has the U.S. Army Corps permit in hand. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) is in the fi nal stages of reviewing information pro-vided by the MPOA prior to issuing a permit.

The Village of Wonder Lake, as administra-tor of the McHenry County Stormwater Ordi-nance, will also review the project. All county requirements have been met, so the village should be issuing the permit soon.

The MPOA is moving toward soliciting bids and will only award contracts once we have the permits. Assuming the IEPA issues the permit in the next few months, construction of the Greenwood Road SDF site will begin this season, and dredging will start in 2014.

The O’Brien Shoals and Wickline Island Protec-tion Project, successfully completed last fall, now shields the shoreline from erosion and enhances fi shery habitat. With assistance from the Nippersink Watershed Association, the

MPOA received a $65,000 IEPA Grant to help offset costs. This project also funded the rip-rap added to the upstream face of the Wonder Lake dam to protect it from erosion.

THANK YOU SPORTSMAN’S CLUB

The Wonder Lake Sportsman’s Club held its an-nual Lake Clean-ups to collect and dispose of debris around the lake on May 4th and 11th. This year they gathered and removed much of the large woody debris that washed into the lake during recent fl ooding. If you know a Sports-man’s Club member or a lake clean-up volun-teer, be sure to thank them for their efforts.

A MESSAGE FROM DICK HILTON

There is much for property owners to do to improve the water quality of Wonder Lake. Throughout the Nippersink Watershed, the nutrient known as phosphorus is a serious concern. Please read and put into practice the suggestions in the Nippersink article on p. 4, and do your part to contribute to a healthy lake.

Have a safe and enjoyable summer. ■

STATUS REPORT

Lake Restoration & Enhancement

WONDER LAKE • SPRING 2013 • WLMPOA.ORGWONDER LAKE • SPRING 2013 • WLMPOA.ORG

Newsletter

MASTER PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION BOARD

Dick Hilton, MPOA PresidentDennis Gallo, 1st Vice PresidentJean Wesolek , 2nd Vice PresidentBill Schalk, TreasurerJane Musel, SecretaryKathy Blum, Recording Secretary

MPOA DIRECTORS

Kelly Nelson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deep Springs Woods CCEd Styger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deep Springs Woods Assn.Jane Musel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hickory Falls 1 & 2Arline Bahrke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hickory Falls 3Jim Clem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Highland ShoresGeorgiann Faso . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Indian RidgeBill Schalck. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lookout PointT.P. Mathews. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mathews UndevelopedKen Pedersen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shore Hills CCMark Nichols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . St. Francis HeightsJean Wesolek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sunrise RidgeKathy Hunt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sunrise Ridge EstatesRayne Gerhardt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . White Oaks BayJim Jensen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WildwoodBernie Duddleston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wonder CenterDennis Gallo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wonder WoodsQuentin Lindsey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wooded Shores

The Wonder Lake MPOA Newsletter is the offi cial newsletter of the Master Property Owners Association in Wonder Lake. Correspondence can be addressed to the MPOA at 7602 Hancock Drive, Wonder Lake, IL 60097. (815) 653 4136 The WonderLake MPOA Newsletter is published quarterly. Editor, Mike Anderson

www.wlmpoa.org

LOCAL POSTAL PATRONWONDER LAKE, IL 60097

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WATERSHED POLLUTION HAZARD

Great Lakes Lawmakers Consider Statewide Bans On Pavement SealantsBy Patrick Lyons

Legislators in three Great Lakes states are proposing statewide bans of certain pavement sealants that have killed aquatic animals and are considered a possible health risk to humans.

Bans are in effect in municipalities and coun-ties in four states —Minnesota, New York, Tex-as and Wisconsin. Washington has approved a statewide ban.

Coal-tar sealant, primarily used on parking lots, contains Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocar-bons (PAHs) some of which are considered probable human carcinogens by the Environ-mental Protection Agency. Coal-tar sealants release large amounts of these compounds into the environment during application.

“As sealants erode, rain can wash them into lakes, rivers and streams threatening local watersheds and human health,” said Peter Van Metre, research hydrologist for the United States Geological Survey. “Once in the wa-tershed they can cause mutations and birth defects in aquatic life,” he said.

There have not been any studies on the nega-tive effect of coal-tar sealant on human health, Van Metre said. But because it contains mul-tiple contaminants that cause cancer in other animals it is a probable human carcinogen.

Multiple studies have shown prenatal expo-sure to high-levels of airborne PAHs can cause lower mental development in young children.

Sealant industry groups say the danger to humans has been exaggerated by activists.

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Canoes, kayaks and paddle boats will no longer be titled / registered with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) un-less they have a motor or sail. Non-powered watercraft will instead purchase a water usage stamp called “Paddle Passes”.

The new IDNR requires any person using a non-powered watercraft to have a valid water usage stamp affi xed to an area easily visible either on the exterior or interior of the device. Non-pow-ered watercraft means any canoe, kayak, kite board, paddle board, fl oat tube, or watercraft not propelled by sail, canvas, or machinery.

Paddle Pass stamps cost $6 per stamp for the fi rst three and $3 for each additional stamp. The stamps must be purchased at the same time in order to receive the discount and are valid for one year.

Passes will be available at the MPOA offi ce by June 1 and enforcement by the state begins July 1. Please log onto Illinois DNR > Recre-ation > Boating for more details.

Even though the IDNR registration process has changed, MPOA members are still re-quired to purchase an MPOA decal for non-powered watercraft. As IDNR will no longer is-sue registrations for non-powered watercraft, the MPOA will accept an existing IDNR regis-tration for the watercraft, even if expired, or a bill of sale showing a serial number if it was purchased after January 1st, 2013. In addition, anyone applying for a MPOA decal for their non-powered watercraft must also provide a copy of a current utility bill (Com Ed, Nicor, etc.) showing a service address for a Wonder Lake property having lake rights. ■

IDNR Rules Change

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ARE YOU PART OF THE PROBLEM?

Aquatic Hitchhikers TargetedNew legislation targets the spread of invasive plant species by penalizing owners with weeds attached to their boats, the so-called “aquatic hitchhikers” that have put a major strain on lake ecosystems across northern Illinois.

The Aquatic Weed Transport Bill (HB 3888) now makes it illegal in Illinois to transport any aquatic plants or animals on recreational wa-ter vehicles, sea planes, or equipment. Under these regulations, police offi cers could stop people with plant life attached to their boats and other watercraft, issuing a fi ne of up to $75.

Environmental offi cials have been dealing with invasive plant species, such as Eurasian water milfoil and curly pondweed, for de-cades. These species crowd out native popula-tions upsetting the balance of lake ecologies. They also make it harder for people to swim and fi sh, lowering property values and leading to losses for the extensive recreational econo-my in northern Illinois.

“The main method of transport is on the outside of our boats, as people hop from one lake to the next,” according to Cathy McGlynn of the Northeast Illinois Invasive Plant Partner-ship. “Owners who don’t clean their boats are largely to blame,” she said.

Recently, the looming threat of new, more aggressive aquatic plants that have struck the Midwest has lake offi cials concerned. Brazilian elodea, a rapidly spreading waterweed that originated as an aquarium plant, showed up in 2011 in Libertyville.

Another new threat, hydrilla, cost tens of millions of dollars to contain in an Indiana outbreak last year. Treating the invasive spe-cies is achieved through physically cutting the plants, using expensive herbicides or bringing in aquatic weevils that feed on the plants, an approach that has yielded mixed results.

“With most of these species, it’s a matter of when, not if, they’re going to appear,” Mc-Glynn said. “Our best bet is prevention and early detection.”

Illinois joins four other Midwest states with regulations against aquatic life transport. Ex-perts said the main benefi t of the new legisla-tion is the attention it shines on the issue.

Utimately, the health of lake ecosystems de-pends on the action of residents. “It’s going to come down to public participation,” McGlynn said. “We need people to make the effort and be conscientious of the impact they can have on the environment.” ■

Kathy L. SierminskiCPA, MAS

Picker & Associates, CPAsAccounting & Tax Services

7442 Hancock DrivePO Box 388

Wonder Lake, Illinois 60097

Phone (815) 728-1200Fax (815) 728 1220www.pickercpa.com

kathys@pickercpa.com

Chamber of Commerce Multi-State Mixer!

Wonder Lake Chamber hosts this great event! Thursday, June 6 from 5 to 7pm. Join us at Alden’s Kennels, 6810 Barnard Mill Road, Ringwood, Illinois. Raffl es Baskets, appetizers, business networking—fun for all!

Wonder Lake Open, Golf Outing

Friday, June 14, 10am, $65, Boone Creek Golf Club, 6912 Mason Hill Road, Bull Valley, Illinois 60050. $65.00 per person includes: 18 holes, cart, range, lunch raffl e ticket, goodie bag, and dinner. What are you waiting for?

4th of July in Wonder Lake —We can’t wait!

Parade steps off at 1:30. Kids Zone & Ski Show at 4:30. Fireworks over the lake after dark.

Venetian Night, Outta Sight!

Sunday, September 1st, decorate your boat in lights and join us! For more information, call (815) 728 0682.

Visit the Chamber of Commerce at wonderlake.org for membership details and upcoming events.

Village of Wonder Lake

No one in the industry is aware of an insur-ance claim for damages or health effects from sealcoats.

A safer asphalt-based alternative that has 1000 times fewer PAHs than the coal-tar seal-ant is available. This asphalt based sealant is used in western states, according to Environ-mental Science and Technology.

More steel mills, which produce the coal-tar pitch, are located in the Midwest and eastern states so those areas have historically seen higher coal-tar sealant use.

Anne LeHuray, executive director of the Pave-ment Coating Technology Council, said the asphalt-based sealant does not last as long as coal-tar sealant and as a petroleum product its price fl uctuates with the price of oil. Because of this unpredictable factor many in the indsu-try choose not to use it.

“Someone seals a parking lot to protect their underlying investment in the asphalt,” LeHu-ray said. “If you are using the regular coal-tar base sealer it only has to be redone every three to fi ve years, whereas if you are using the asphalt base sealer you have to redo it every one to two years.” ■

©2013, Great Lakes Echo, Michigan State University Knight Center for Environmental Journalism; photo: Barbara Mahler, USGS Research Hydrologist; complete article available at greatlakesecho.org

U.S. Geological Survey researchers applying coal-tar sealant for an experiment.

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FEWER CHEMICALS, BETTER WATER QUALITY

Clean, Clear, Beautiful Water—You Can Make It So

James J Schroeder, DDS(815) 653-5141

Dental Care for the Entire Family

www.drjschroeder.com

7424 Hancock Dr • Wonder Lake

• Nitrous oxide to help you relax• Teeth whitening services• Cosmetic fi llings and restorations• Porcelain veneers, crowns & bridges• Dental implant restoration• Root canals and endodontic therapy• Periodontal and gum disease• Oral surgery and tooth extractions• Treatment for swelling and infections• Sealants to prevent tooth decay

The Nippersink Watershed Association and Illinois State University (with funding from the Illinois EPA), have partnered to develop the “Lawns for the Nippersink” campaign geared at educating local watershed residents and retailers about the value of using phosphorus-free fertilizers for lawn care. The Nippersink Creek Watershed spans over 200 square miles and is a valuable resource to McHenry County residents. The watershed is home to high quality water and habitat resources for not only local wildlife but also is a recreational asset for residents throughout northern Illinois and Wisconsin. However, due to increasing development and land use change, water resources within the Nippersink Creek Watershed are increasingly at risk from

pollution. One signifi cant source is fertilizer and pesticide runoff from turf grass lawns, which has been associated with a variety of water quality concerns such as algal blooms, eutrophication, and contaminated groundwater. Phosphorus is a nutrient found in many fertilizers that feeds algal blooms in waterways. By using Phosphorus-free fertilizer, you can maintain a natural, healthy lawn without compromising the quality of local waters.

In response to this increasing risk, the “Lawns for the Nippersink” campaign focuses on educating local homeowners about phosphorus-free

fertilizers and working with local garden and lawn care retailers who currently

supply phosphorus-free fertilizers to better promote these

Bjorkman’s Ace Hardware4520 W. Crystal Lake Road, McHenry

Bohn’s Ace Hardware150 S. Eastwood Drive, Woodstock

Farm and Fleet 11501 Route 14, Woodstock

Harvard True Value 42 N. Ayer, Harvard

Novotny True Value Hardware5615 Wilmot Road, Johnsburg

Perricone Garden Center and Nursery31600 Fisher Road, McHenry

Richmond Ace Hardware10824 N. Main Street, Richmond

Tractor Supply Company1201 S. Division, Harvard

Woodstock Farm and Lawn Center2020 S. Eastwood Drive, Woodstock

Look for the “Lawns for the Nippersink”

Logo at these local retailers!

products in their stores. The “Lawns for the Nippersink” logo will be incorporated into a variety of outreach materials to help people recognize this campaign and quickly identify phosphorus-free products. As part of this outreach campaign, this spring and summer, local garden retailers will be given educational materials to use in their stores to help educated consumers about phosphorus-free fertilizers and how to identify phosphorus-free fertilizers versus conventional fertilizers. “Lawns for the Nippersink” door hang tags contain information on how homeowners can care for their lawn using environmentally friendly practices. One of the goals of the campaign is to distribute approximately 3,000 of these door hang tags to homeowners during the month of May.

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