Get down and dirty and help clean up the lake. Rakes, weeding tools, gloves, (main goal = load up lumber from boardwalk & pick up trash) Thanks to our Sponsors:
Well, just over a month ago Decker
Lake became the domain of Salt Lake
County Parks & Recreation. With
County budget hearings just around
the corner, the big questions quickly
became....
When will the EPA project get done?
and...
Is there any reason to ask for more
money before the EPA project is
finished?
In short, is there any point asking for
Parks & Rec type monies for fiscal year
‘97?
Given the fact that the EPA project only deals with clean water funds, there is a lot which needs to be done at Decker Lake outside of the EPA project, really falling into the domain of Parks & Rec. Since the County budget process had already started, it would have been easy for Parks & Rec to put the "Wetlands/Park" theme on the back burner until next year (that would mean no new money allocated until FY ‘98). However, Parks & Rec will request additional funds for grading, topsoil, and beginning the revegetation at Decker Lake for FY ‘97. Once again, showing the Parks & Rec's commitment. Keep in mind, however, we are just like all the other County projects soliciting county $$$. Make sure you let the County Commission know you want Decker Lake included in this year's budget.
On the lake front....The County's hauling project for this year is done. "Rough grading" the area will be completed by Sept 20th. Final grading will occur as soon as weather permits in the spring. Funds which come in over the winter for the Adopt-a-Plot program will be applied to the final grading.
The bottom line is...there is progress. Always there is progress. Interest in the project continues to build and interest + progress = success.
Remember...
Clean Up Day at the lake!
Wednesday, Sept 25th
5:30 pm
If you were out at the work day on August 28th, you saw a lot of hard working folks. How do we single out any one person or group? Is it Bob Walters who showed up about 5:00, one of the first and was the last to leave? And then showed up at dawn the next day to literally pull the supporting beams of the boardwalk apart? What a guy!!! Thank you Bob!!
Or is it the youth from Valley Junior High, West Valley City Youth Council, Murray High School, Boy Scouts, or LDS Young Women who helped fill the dumpsters high with boardwalk and trash picked up from around the lake?
Or is it Clarence Bemis, Jerry Kersey, and Bill Berger from Utah Airboaters Assoc who brought boatload after boatload of trash to the shore. Certainly they get the prize for the most interesting finds!
Or is it Bill Johnston from Shasta Analytical who really got down and dirty in his hip waders!
Or is it Tim Treft for saving the day with ice for the drinks in addition to his work? Or Steve Reed for getting all those frozen yogurts donated?
It is impossible to single any one person out... Thank you, one and all!
Note: If you helped out on the workday and your name is not listed here, please call Dianna Smith at 261-0496. Your hours may count toward the in-kind EPA match. We need to keep the records to include your hours. Thanks!
YEP! This month's Member meeting will once again be dedicated to cleaning up the lake environs. At last month's clean up about seventy volunteers participated in making this a successful event! We have a bit more clean up to do before the snow flies--and with the weather change, the pressure is on!
The sun will set earlier, so time will be limited at this Wednesday's clean up. We will concentrate on loading the remainder of the torn up boardwalk. But, don't think that means we don't need your help. We DO!! There is a lot of loading and cleaning up to be done. Please bring your gloves!
Last month the Utah Airboaters pulled about twenty tires out of the lake, along with lots of the usual plastic bags and pieces of wood. Some of the more interesting things they piled up on the shore included some unhappy child's Big Wheel, and somebody's double bed box spring. (How do these things end up in the lake???***%!?)
The demolition crew did a number on what was the old boardwalk. About half of the structure is now history. (Did you see the great picture in the Tribune?) And lots of folks retrieved trash from along the lake shore. Both BFI dumpsters were filled to overflowing.
The crews were well fed. Steve Reed showed up with 50 frozen yogurts donated from the West Jordan Hogi Yogi. Einsteins donated 100 bagels, Frito-Lay supplied chips, and Albertsons provided drinks. We will once again try to have some snacks for the cleanup on Wed, Sept 25th.
Are you interested in grantswriting? Wish you knew more about how to write a winning proposal? Here is your chance!!
The DLWPF Board voted to fund an attendee to the GET THAT GRANT: Grantwriting from Conception to Completion seminar to be held in Park City on Nov 4-7. Participants learn the format of a complete grant proposal, how to tailor proposal formats to meet the requirements of different funders and how to improve the match between grantseeker needs and funder priorities. During the session participants develop an individual grant proposal and conduct a funding search using reference materials supplied.
DLWPF is willing to fund someone (a $600 investment) in return for that person returning to Salt Lake and teaching one or two other DLWPF members what she or he learned and work with DLWPF to provide two or three submitted proposals. A fair trade for the valuable information and a nice addition to any resume!
For more info or if you are interested in attending the GET THAT GRANT seminar to be held in Park City, Nov 4-7, please call Rich Parks at 468-3604 or Dianna Smith at 261-0496. GET THAT GRANT is sponsored by Wasatch Front Resource Conservation and Development Council.
Our sincere thanks go to all those who have kept the Adopt-A-Plot campaign going strong! The list of contributors this month includes:
Thank You! Thank You!
Bob Yerzy and the LAB ALIVE students of Canyon View Elementary invited DLWPF to a meeting on Sept 17th. The LAB ALIVE youth are anxious to work with DLWPF in building a stronger, broader-based organization.
The LAB ALIVE students are interested in linking with the DLWPF youth education group headed by Steve Reed of Valley Jr High. The goal is to integrate both groups into one working body.
One example of the energy and great ideas from such a melding is the following: The need for interpretive signs has been indicated as a high priority from DLWPF surveys. Signage identifying birds and plants. DLWPF has incorporated the signs into the overall plan. This is good. Yes?
Add to this the idea from the Valley Jr students to include signage in other languages. Remember, not only our own bi-lingual community, but also the 2002 Olympics is just around the corner. The Valley Jr. language students are willing to translate brochures and signs.
Now add to this the idea from the Canyon View students to address the special needs population. They are willing to learn how to produce a braille brochure, using the special braille typewriter.
A good idea just turned into a fantastic project!
The Canyon View and Valley Jr. students are planning a get-acquainted activity in the near future. We look forward to great things!!
Several people have asked lately what they, as an individual or as a company, can do to help the Decker Lake restoration project. Here are a few ideas:
Let DLWPF know what you think about the concept plan. Do you have other ideas? Are there other things you would like to see at the lake? Or, if you like what you see, we need to know that also. Drop us a postcard letting us know. Let the Commissioners and your legislators know what you like about the plan.
Can you or your company make an in-kind donation? Trucks, fuel, paper, blank cassette tapes, mailing envelopes, sprinkler pipe? Sponsor/Co-Sponsor newsletter printings or mailings.
Invite DLWPF for a brown-bag lunch presentation at your company.
Support the project through Adopt-a-Plot or other fundraisers. Sponsor/Co-Sponsor the educational kiosk, traveling display, or other small, but vitally important, educational projects.
As an individual, or as a company, support volunteer work days.
Decker Lake Wetlands Preserve Foundation