Enter from the north side of campus. We will be in the new 5-story building, enter from the north door (main parking is now on the north side of the building).
Topic: Winter Priorities
Come join the DLWPF volunteers for an evening of planning. To have things ready for the Spring, behind-the-scenes work needs to happen. We need people interested in landscaping, defining the educational center, helping to build our membership, education, grantswriting, recognition of volunteers, and getting the word out. This will be a working committee meeting. If you are not on a committee and have a few minutes of time, we NEED you!
WOW! Where do we begin???? Things are really hopping at and around the lake.... Here's a brief run down on the past month's activities. For specifics, see the related articles.
There were essentially three different clean-up activities during September, two on one day. September 25th was deemed another workday and we geared up to remove the remainder of the boardwalk. What a job! See Under the Boardwalk....
With Salt Lake County's increased involvment with Decker Lake, meetings regarding the project occur fairly frequently. They continue to push the project forward and compress the time frame. See County Budget Hearings.
If you give (or are thinking of giving) to the Combined Federal Campaign, see Can Combined Federal Campaign Help Decker Lake?
Remember the State Non-Motorized Trails grant we submitted for back in May? Well, DLWPF received word last week that they accepted our proposal! See Trails Funded!!!
If you are looking for Christmas gift ideas, check out what's inside. See Christmas List Ideas.
September found DLWPF facing the coming of winter with a dismantled board-walk waiting to be hauled away. DLWPF's agreement with the County was to make sure we left the area in better condition than previously, we knew we had to work quickly to clean up the rest of the mess. With evening closing in quickly after the workday, how could we possibly get enough people over to the lake in an evening to load up all that lumber? Well, we kept the faith and set up another Member workday and knew things would work out for the project. And did it ever!!!
Doug McLennan, teacher at Horizonte High School, called a week before the workday. Doug had seen the article in the Tribune about the August workday and wondered if there was anything his high school students could do to help the project.
The Horizonte students took their UEA holiday to do service projects that entire week, all day long! Doug and 15 Horizonte students showed up at the lake at 9:30 am. Talk about a hard working crew!! They spent most of the day at the lake. By the time they left, both BFI dumpsters were pretty full and most of the heavy lumber had been loaded.The number of hours they spent, and the amount of muscle power some of these very "buff" kids provided made it possible to successfully clean up the boardwalk completely. We very literally could not have gotten the job done without them.
Thank you to the Horizonte High School students! What a great bunch of youth!! And thank you to Dominos Pizza (17th & Redwood) for providing pizzas for the students.
Later that evening, the rest of the Decker Lakers spent a few more hours to finish the job. There was still enough heavy work that everyone had plenty to do. If you haven't been to the lake lately, stop by. The boardwalk is gone (up to the pavilion which will need some heavy equipment help). The boardwalk is so completely gone that Dave Quibbeman had his rake out getting rid of even the little debris.
Then, on Super Saturday, the Valley Junior High students converged on the lake. There was some concern about whether they would find enough trash to keep them busy for an entire morning. Never fear! These kids were all over the lake, and filled 75 bags full of DL debris. Another trike was pulled from the lake and lots of other "junk". They spent their entire Saturday morning cleaning up the lake. A terrific job was done by all.
Thank you everyone! The lake is much cleaner and safer, thanks to your efforts.
Last April, DLWPF, along with numerous other organizations, went through the gyrations of writing and submitting a proposal for the State Non-Motorized Trails Grant. Getting all of the paperwork together is a chore, there is no other word for it, but we met the deadline with two minutes to spare!
In July we learned DLWPF had made it onto the finals list. John Knudsen of State Trails met with DLWPF to fill in some blanks and request additional information. Through July DLWPF faxed information as it was documented to the State Trails committee. Then we waited.
By the end of September, at least some on the DLWPF board had started to assume we had been passed over. But, once again...the sun shone on Decker Lake....
On Tuesday, October , the day after Columbus Day, John Knudson contacted DLWPF and asked "Well, would you folks like some money?" WOW!!! Would we!! So, what does this mean? DLWPF requested $47,000 to build trails around the lake. SLCounty Parks & Rec will be the overseer (a govt agency is required to play this role).
The $47,000 requires a dollar-for-dollar match which DLWPF anticipates will come from corporate contributions ($10,000 has already been provided by FIRST HEALTH and HBA), EDA funds, and volunteer in-kind/work.
As soon as the contract is signed and we are ready to start the work, the State gives the project half of their money. We spend it, along with our match, and after the project is completed we are reimbursed for the rest.
What can we use the money for? Trails and trail related amenities. Benches, interpretive signage, construction of the trails.
Part of the agreement with State Trails is to connect the Decker Lake trail with the Redwood/Jordan trail and finish that leg. If you like this idea and live within WVC make sure you let the City Council know you support this venue.
DLWPF has heard a lot about Decker Lake's past. Many people talk about having gone out to the lake in their youth. Time and again reference is made to ice skating, boating, and family picnics.
DLWPF wants to include a historical snap shot of the evolution of Decker Lake, both environmentally and culturally, in an educational display about the lake.
If you have family pictures, journal entries, or other Decker Lake memorabilia (maybe an old map showing the lake at its original 150 acre size) which DLWPF can include in the exhibit, please contact us at 977-4999. A copy is all we need. Also, if you are interested in helping on the historical project, call Bruce Smith at 261-0496.
Once again, how do we single out any one person or group? The Horizonte High School students were life-savers! The Valley Junior High School students have consistently been there for every clean-up and then some of their own! All of you who showed up in the evening of the 25th were critical to completing the job. Everyone who traversed the entire lake and filled over 200 sacks with Decker Lake refuse helped make the lake a cleaner, safer place. It is impossible to single any one person out... Thank you, one and all!
Wendy Rocha Penny Ciak Sarah Clift Ryan Agar Amanda Martin Lindsey Seibert Dwayne Sharp Jason Duncan Jeremy Beecher Jonathan Duncan Tom Kasparian Dave Quebbeman Shannon King Alice Ashby Kathy Moran Brooke Sanders Laurie Ashby Angela Dean Doris Larsen Caleb Pryor Bob Walters Camron Jensen Shayne Evans Daisy Rocha Sue Gibbs Bruce Smith Miranda Larsen Shannon King Danny Jones June Ryburn Jon Bertrand Tim Brown Rich Parks Michelle Garcia Kenny Young Kenny Simmons Cherlyn John Juan Estrada Mele Fifita Lonnie Maka Harrison Haskie Eddie Elezovick Sasha Lugo Julio Compos Robbie Rodriquez Brandy Madrill Candy Madrill Dezeroe Shayee Cody Nelson (Cody helped out at the Aug workday, thanks to his sister Jessica for letting us know he had not been acknowledged).
This list is not complete. There were close to 60 Valley Junior High Students at the lake on their Super Saturday cleanup. We do not have a list of names yet, but hopefully will be able to give recognition in the next newsletter. If you or someone you know participated in one of the clean-ups and the name is not listed here, please call Dianna Smith at 261-0496. Your hours will count toward volunteer match.
Looking for a creative Christmas gift for that bird watcher on your list? Or maybe you are at a loss for what to give your mother ( who really does have everything she can possibly fit on her knick-knack shelf). Do you need a "sustainable" yet personal gift idea?
How about adopting a plot of wetlands in someone's name? Add $5 to the usual wetlands plot contribution, print the name of the person you want to gift, and DLWPF will send an Adopt-a-Plot certificate in the name of the ‘Giftee', in time for Christmas.
This is one gift which will keep on giving but never clutter up the house!
Just mark the Adopt-a-Plot form for the plot amount, check the line for the Christmas Certificate, print the name you want to appear on the certificate, and mail in your check. We will send the certificate to either you or your ‘giftee'.
DLWPF also has a few more "Pieces of Pie". We could probably be convinced to sell a "piece of the pie" (small chunks of the dried dredge material mounted on finished wood). Guaranteed to be classified as "collectible" at some future date, we are sure. For more info, call 977-4999.
Our sincere thanks go to all those who keep Adopt-A-Plot going strong! The list of contributors this month includes:
Paul & Katherine Grier Ralph & Julie Larson
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
DLWPF is in desperate need of:
I don't' know how many times my mother told me the stories about when she was a girl, and how her father and she would venture out to Decker Lake for a day of fishing. That was in the 1910's and ‘20's and surroundings near the lake included cattails and willows. Such pleasant greenery is destined to return in the ‘90's. The Decker Lake project will balance habitat restoration with the nearby commercial development. That favorite fishing spot from a bygone era will not only be revitalized, but the lake shore will become an inviting spot for people to learn about wildlife and drought tolerant landscaping.
Decker Lake is one of twenty-three projects from Morgan to Tooele County that involve the collaborative efforts of Wasatch Front Resource Conservation and Development Council (RC&D) member organizations.
Each project requires on-going funding. As federal employees consider what cause to support through the Combined Federal Campaign (a program similar to the United Way), RC&D wants to get the word out that the RC&D is listed as a recipient on page 2 of the Combined Federal Campaign booklet, code # 5925. If you want to designate your funds to apply to Decker Lake, just drop RC&D a post card indicating your desire. They have agreed to earmark funds for a specific project.
All RC&D Council projects are designed to protect natural resources in ways that improve local economies (providing opportunities to learn about nearby Indian culture, the Salt Flats, and Wendover's WWII role), and Clover Creek (a 93,000 acre watershed rehabilitation program in Rush Valley)..
In the last two years, WFRC&D has helped over 40 organizations discover common purpose and a sense of cooperation through a process David Spann, WFRC&D Executive Director, calls ‘Common-Unity'. Council members hope federal employees will see the value of the WFRC&D and contribute through the Combined Federal Campaign, funding more organization in collaborative community projects. and quality of life.
Salt Lake County Budget hearings begin August 7th. If you like what is happening at the lake, please drop a postcard to the County Commissioners, or give them a call, and let them know you like what you see. Decker Lake has to petition for County funds, just like every other project. Letting the Commissioners know how you feel about a project helps them know what you want them to support.
The Commission address is:
The Business and Professional Women of Utah Foundation is soliciting nominations for Outstanding Women of Achievement. Each year BPW/Utah honors a woman from Utah in each of five categories: Academia, Community Service, Professions, The Arts, and Entrepreneurial. A business may also honor a woman within the organization. For more information contact Irene Warr at 264-7040.
BPW Utah is also holding their annual Spaghetti feed to raise funds for scholarships for women re-entering the work force. The date is October 26th, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm, at Sugarhouse VFW (2920 Highland Dr). Stop by and enjoy some good spaghetti for a very good cause, and meet some pretty neat people, too!
Decker Lake Wetlands Preserve Foundation