Riprap Coming To Madison’s B.B. Clarke Beach Come Spring
UPDATE
After writing this post comes word that the spring work is now to be pushed to the fall. Still, I am pleased that this project is moving forward.
The application is considered complete by DNR, and now we are into the DNR’s public comment period. The public comment period will last into February, then assuming that we are granted a permit, I’d expect to receive that in March. For project of this type we like to have the permit in hand prior to bidding, because there can be permit conditions that are stipulated that can affect the design of the project, and the bid pricing. So that puts us too late to bid the project for spring construction, since we only have a short window in the spring after the ice is out but before the water levels come up and the beach gets busy. So at this point I am anticipating fall 2011 construction rather than spring construction.
Even though it is winter and thoughts of summer days spent at a beach may seem far away plans are underway to make one local beach a nicer place to visit.
The City of Madison has applied to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to install riprap along the shoreline of B.B. Clarke Beach.
The DNR has made tentative determination that it will grant the permit.
Over the past decade severe erosion has taken place along the beach located on Lake Monona. The result has been trees toppling over due to roots being exposed from the loss of soil on the shoreline.
A tree fell at B.B. Clarke Beach in the summer of 2010.
With input from the isthmus neighborhood, and forward thinking by Alderperson Marsha Rummel, the city appropriated funds and are now moving towards the start of work come early spring.
Riprap is a proven method of dealing with problems being experienced at the beach. Large amounts of rock are lined along the shoreline to serve as a buffer. As the waves wash towards land the rocks in large measure absorb and deflect the pressure of the water, and its harmful impact.
A strip of no-mow growth will run along the riprap area onshore to allow for runoff water to be filtered.
The effects of erosion can be seen on these tree roots at the shoreline.
The actual work will not impact the beach itself, but instead modify the shoreline on either side of the beach.
