Barron County Conservationist Dale Hanson, left, accepts a check for $9,300 from Chetek Lakes Protection Association President Jerry Zehner to help with the implementation of a watershed project on the Chetek Chain of Lakes.

The Barron County Soil and Water Conservation Department has announced that a $150,000 grant has been approved by the State of Wisconsin for conservation projects on the shoreline and in the watershed of the Chetek Chain of Lakes. The goal of the project is to improve the water quality of the Chetek Chain. This will be accomplished by installing conservation projects that will reduce the runoff of pollutants from agricultural fields and the shoreline area of the lakes.

The grant was received under the DNR program entitled Targeted Runoff Management, and the $150,000 grant can only be used for installing conservation projects. Due to state budget cuts in other areas, the Soil and Water Conservation Department has no staff available to implement this watershed project. The Chetek Lakes Protection Association will be contributing $9,300 toward the cost of personnel to run the watershed project in 2004.

CLPA President Jerry Zehner commented that the project is an excellent example of cooperation between the Soil and Water Conservation Department, an agency of Barron County government, and the CLPA, a voluntary group of private citizens. Both groups are working together for a common goal to protect and enhance the Chetek Chain of Lakes, Zehner added.

Landowners who are eligible for conservation measures under this program will be contacted. For most conservation projects the watershed program will pay for 70 percent of the installation. Participation in the program is voluntary.

©The Chetek Alert 2004