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Watertown adopts aquatic vegetation management SOP; council debates dredging Hyden Pond, Victoria Lake and funding options
Summary
The City Council adopted an aquatic vegetation management standard operating procedure and directed staff to explore broader options including dredging, cost-sharing and state funding; council members cited dredging cost estimates that exceed current stormwater reserves.
The Watertown City Council voted Sept. 2 to adopt an aquatic vegetation management standard operating procedure (SOP) that will govern plant and shoreline management on city-owned properties and equipment. Council members said the SOP is only the first step and directed staff to investigate funding options, coordination with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and possible governance structures for properties not owned by the city.
Council discussion focused heavily on two local bodies of water — Hyden Pond and Victoria Lake — where elected officials and several council members said sedimentation and aquatic growth have degraded water quality and aesthetics. Council member Berg said the stormwater utility balance is limited and cited figures from the meeting: "We have $1,200,000 in our stormwater utility fund" for residential contributions and roughly "$600,000" for commercial allocations, and he noted dredging estimates of about $1,260,000 to dredge Victoria Lake and roughly $4,200,000 to dredge Hyden Pond.
Council member Lampe summarized four staff/commission recommendations that the council directed staff to pursue further: refer the matter to legal counsel to explore lake district formation or intergovernmental agreements; investigate funding and cost-sharing mechanisms; consult the Wisconsin DNR on permitting thresholds; and coordinate with residents about forming an association or administrative structure.
Council member Blanky described adoption of the SOP as a high-level first step and urged staff to pursue the additional investigations. Pete (city staff) confirmed the city had directed staff to pursue state funding and clarified that some dredging proposals would be capital projects requiring long-term funding.
A recorded roll call showed the resolution adopting the SOP passed with all council members voting aye on the final roll call: Arnett, Wetzel, Moldenhauer, Davis, Lampe, Berg and Blankey.
The SOP, as adopted, applies to city-owned lands only; several council members emphasized that work on properties not owned by the city would require separate agreements or resident-led governance. Council members repeatedly urged pursuing state grant options and intergovernmental participation because the dredging price estimates would far exceed the city’s current stormwater reserves.
The council did not adopt any immediate dredging contract or specific capital appropriation during the meeting; it adopted the SOP and directed staff to pursue additional study and funding avenues.
