THE WAUPACA COUNTY POST

April 3, 1975

 

PROBLEMS AT THE CARY POND

By Tom Boario

 

Waupaca’s shallow 26 acre Cary Pond,

With its massive summertime algae and plant growths,

Presents a number of perplexing problems, especially to the shoreline residents.

 

            Waupaca’s Cary Pond, like most millponds around the country has a problem maintaining its identity and the shoreline property owners don’t like what’s happening.

            Increased situation, prolific plant growth and putrid, noxious algae blooms glaringly spell out the deterioration process of any mill pond.

            And the shallow, 26-acre Cary basin, sitting astride the Crystal River on the southeast corner of the city hangs in the slot of an ecological roulette wheel.

            Formed by the old Felt Mill Dam, now owned and operated by the Shanak Foundry and Machine Company, the pond is plagued by a nemesis called aging … as time marches on sediments gradually fill the basin and the pond becomes a marsh and eventually dry ground.

            Historically, and all mill ponds are confronted with this problem, the ponds serve as settling vats for the silt load and run-off nutrients from the surrounding watershed.  And over the years the accumulation of rich organic sediment becomes a hot bed for tremendous plant growth.

            Problems at the Cary Pond, however, were accelerated dramatically after the Department of Natural Resources’ chemical treatment project in the fall of 1971.

            With the destruction of the bottom feeding carp, the waters cleared in the pond and ideal conditions flourished for plant and algae growth.  Stimulated by the increased sunlight penetration the plant life erupted.  In the past the carp had kept the plants in check, clouding the water with their feeding activities and severely limiting sunlight penetration.

            But now, with the rooting carp gone, the Cary Pond and its counterparts at Amherst and Weyauwega have turned into massive aquatic jungles.

            So a number of Pond-side residents, frustrated by the problems, have banded together and petitioned the DNR for measures to alleviate the problems.

            Too, the group has enlisted the political clout of State Rep. Francis Byers (R. – Marion) requesting the DNR to “take necessary steps to remove the erosion, flats, weeds and stench, also to establish a water level,” at the Cary Pond.

            But the situation is far from simple to resolve. A multitude of biological, social, legal and financial factors enter the picture.

            Consider the extensive Marion Mill Pond demonstration project, a two-year renovation completed in 1971, sponsored by the Upper Great Lakes Regional Commission with technical assistance from the University of Wisconsin and Department of Natural Resources.

            The 110-acrew impoundment afflicted by the standard symptoms, was given a substantial rehabilitation injection, at a cost of $101,000 with $82,000 provided by the Inland Lake Fund and the remainder from the community of Marion in cash disbursements and donated equipment and labor.

            The demonstration work included such in-pond activities as: dam modification, stump and log removal, sediment manipulation, application of various bottom treatments (plastic sheeting, sand blankets, etc.) and fish restocking.

            The shoreland program centered on grading and rip-rapping selected shoreland areas for erosion control, recontouring and re-vegetation of drudged spoil banks and enhancing the recreational facilities, the beaches, boat launching sites and park areas around the pond.

            Problems in the drainage basin were approached with simple remedial measures for reducing nutrient and sediment runoff at three farms in that primarily agricultural watershed.

            Afterwards, one point the study team made was that a project comparable to the Marion Mill Pond could probably be undertaken over a two to three year period at a cost of $50,000 to $60,000, “assuming strong community support, expressed as volunteer labor and donated equipment and materials.”

            Concerning the Cary Pond situation, the DNR’s Madison staff requested field personnel to identify the existing problems and make recommendations for future plans.

            Fishery biologist, Dave Crockett, has conducted the field investigations and recommendations:

            “The pond serves as a collecting basin for silt from eroding banks upstream.  In addition, the sloughing of the high banks of the pond itself has contributed a great deal to the filling of the pond.  The latter can be attributed primarily to the extensive development of the shoreline.  I foresee an even greater problem here, as the remaining natural shoreline of the pond is now being platted for development.

            “A major problem is quite obviously the lack of an established water level for the dam.  Several times in 1974, I observed the pond drawn down to the river channel and then filled again to over nine feet, all within a couple of days.  This, of course, concerns me as we are trying to re-establish a trout fishery below as well as above the Cary Pond.

            “The major problems then are abundant aquatic vegetation, accumulation of silt and the lack of an established water level.

            “Impractical solutions would be to re-stock carp and or undergo an expensive dredging operation, both of which would result in only temporary alleviation of the problem. Rip-rapping and other erosion control techniques might help, but because of the personnel commitments, would be quite limited.  Establishment of a water level would indeed help the situation but from a legal standpoint this may be difficult or impossible.

            “Idealistically, I recommend only one solution .. and that is to eliminate the impoundment.”

            Crockett’s ideal solution is certain to run into obstacles and may never be implemented; but it’s a certainty that the Madison decision-makers will take a long hard look at all the possible alternatives.

            At the moment, resolving the fluctuating water level problem would probably be most beneficial; but as Crockett notes, the legal implications are another matter.

            Too, some people contend that removal of the impoundment would have far-reaching benefits … a meandering trout stream twisting through town … with the exposed land on either side donated to the city and groomed as a public park.

            Meanwhile the Cary Pond and its sisters at Amherst and Weyauwega, and throughout the county and state will continue to struggle forward into a marsh.