Land purchase part of treatment project

CELINA - Lake Facilities Authority board members on Thursday approved spending $1.1 million to buy 88.9 acres of land as part of a $1.5 million project to create a treatment train at the junction of Burntwood and Coldwater creeks.

The purchase will allow creation of the treatment train, officially known as the Langenkamp Family Preserve Project. The land would become the first upstream treatment train, intended to treat Burntwood Creek. The goal is to create a treatment train through which water would flow naturally without the need for pumps, which officials hope will minimize maintenance costs.

The land purchase is being funded by an approximately $1.1 million grant from the Ohio Public Works Commission for Clean Ohio Conservation Funds.

Another $1.5 million is being provided through an H2Ohio grant agreement with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, which will be used to develop the wetland conservation area.

Theresa Dirksen of Ag Solutions estimated construction of the treatment train would cost about $1.2 million of the H2Ohio funds, while the rest would be dedicated to consulting activities for the project.

In other business, Dirksen notified LFA members that recent alum treatments at West Beach had been ineffective in reducing toxin levels related to blue-green algae. In 30 to 60 minutes immediately after alum treatments, a significant decrease in algal activity had been documented, Dirksen said. However, within 48 hours algal activity had reportedly returned to prior levels.

Toxin levels at West Beach will continue to be monitored daily, Dirksen said, expressing hope that by the next LFA meeting, a new plan for improving water quality in the area would be in place.