Public Meeting set re: Crystal Lake Rehabilitation, Management and Access Plan
The Urbana Park District is undertaking a new rehabilitation, management and access plan to help improve the health of Crystal Lake and increase and improve recreational opportunities around the lake over the long term.
Crystal Lake was last rehabilitated in 1986. Engineering was performed by Berns, Clancy and Associates. Improvements were made to the shoreline, lake bottom, fishing piers, and storm sewers, as well as the installation of a sediment basin.
No major rehabilitation has taken place on the lake since that time and conditions have deteriorated. Some of the shoreline protections are failing, other exposed sections of the shoreline are experiencing erosion, portions of the lake edge are choked with invasive plants, watermeal and duckweed cover the lake surface in the summer, and Canada goose populations have risen, among other issues.
"We want to address the overall lack of infrastructure to support recreation in and around the lake," said park district project manager Caitlin Lill. "Including the fact that existing park trails provide little access to much of the lakeshore."
After careful consideration of all submitted proposals, the park district selected the team of Berns, Clancy and Associates (BCA), Living Waters Consultants, and SmithGroup JJR. The park board approved their contract at its June board meeting.
Through their combined experience with several local projects including the 1986 Crystal Lake rehabilitation, the Weaver Park watershed wetland basin project, the Crystal Lake Master Plan, and similar projects with other organizations, Urbana Park District staff members are confident the selected consultant team will provide management solutions that will address ongoing issues and revitalize recreational usage around the lake.
The public is invited to a meeting that will kick off the planning process from 5:30-7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15 at the park district Planning and Operations office, 1011 E. Kerr Avenue in Urbana.
After an introduction of current conditions and plan goals, the public will join in one or more break out groups to offer their ideas about areas related to the lake and lake recreation (fishing, hiking, water quality, bird watching, others).
The team will use this information and that gathered from staff members to create a draft plan, which will be shared at a second public meeting yet to be announced sometime this fall.
Engineering and site preparation for any future lake rehabilitation and improvement is expected in 2016.