Shoreline Erosion Continues At B.B. Clarke Beach, No One Seems In Charge Of Solution

Let me start by saying I am rather dispirited after a few phone calls today with the Madison City Engineering office, and the DNR concerning the never ending erosion of the shoreline along B.B. Clarke Beach.  Worse still is the lack of leadership to remedy the problem. 

If this were a new problem at the shoreline I could easily understand the reason that no remedy has been enacted. I am, after all, understanding of the ways of government, and do not expect miracles.   But we all know this shoreline problem is many years in the making. 

Recently the city council voted for funding (roughly $41,000) for what I was led to believe was the rip-rock proposal to stop the erosion at the shoreline and help save the trees.  So one might understand my facial expressions when I heard today that the city engineering office has not even allocated any staff time to come up with an initial proposal that would then be sent off to the DNR for a permit!!  They ‘talked’ about this issue two years ago, it was reported to me, but nothing happened.  There are many things I was thinking, but I let my diplomatic side win out.  

There has been no final answer to whether the city will do any of the actual construction work, or if it will be contracted out.  When asked how a proposal can go from the bottom of the engineering ‘to-do-pile’ to the top the response was, ‘that is an interesting question.”. 

Damn straight it is! 

It is time that we all start asking some direct questions about when we can expect a long-time problem at the shoreline to be remedied.  It is time that those who have the power to effect change on this matter be held accountable.  I am not in the mood for more chatter just to make me feel better. 

I truly think that Alder Marsha Rummel wants this matter dealt with.  We have had a few conversations on this matter, and truth be told I left a polite but frank message for her prior to writing this post.   I also think those who wish for the rip-rock idea, or some alternative solution, want the matter of the shoreline dealt with in the short term.  

But somewhere through it all the ball has been dropped.  Over and over and over…..year after year after year.

I think it is important that Alder Rummel force the issue more energetically with city engineering.  When told that street construction takes much of the staff time it makes me angry. After all, when will street construction not take too much of the staff time?  The shoreline issue needs to be brought from the bottom of the pile upwards.   Streets will always be a part of the city, but so will Lake Monona!

We have had lots of rain, high lake levels, and more exposed roots on the trees.  We have had more erosion along the shoreline. 

And we have had more happy talk.  Lots of it!!

We do not need more meetings and community input.  That is a dreadful process that has already led to too much inaction.  What we need is for city engineering to move ahead, and have the urging of our alder for a plan that can be submitted to the permitting process with the DNR.  The city council has already voted money for a project.

Bottom line for me, and all those who care about this matter is short and quite straightforward. 

When will we actually have a remedy installed on the shoreline to meet the needs that exist?