The PVLA Reviltalization Project

 

 

After years of discussion and evaluation, the Pleasant Valley Lake Association (PVLA) voted in September 2022 to proceed with a plan to reverse years of decline of our shared lake. Most of the lake was very shallow, in most cases less that 2-3 ft. which contributed to the poor health of the lake.  The plan involved making the lake deeper, resolving shoreline issues, and replanting the shoreline.

 

This was a major investment by our members and came at substantial individual family cost.  

 

The chronology of the plan was as follows:

 

1)      After approval of the plan by HOA member families, our engineering partner (Nielsen, Madsen, and Barber) applied for the appropriate permitting through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.  That permitting process took significant time to get to approval through the state.

 

2)      Members of the HOA cleared and remediating buckthorn (an invasive species) and other shoreline brush in preparation for dredging.  

 

3)      In Fall 2023, the dewatering process began.  Water from the lake was pumped over the dam in the southwest part of the lake into Sorenson Creek.  That creek leads to the Pike River and eventually flows into Lake Michigan in Kenosha.  

 

4)      Once sufficiently drained, the thick layer of organic matter was trucked away by our partner AW Oakes and Sons.  Removal of this material began the process of improving the natural health of the area. That material accumulated through erosion, leaves and grass clippings, wildlife droppings, lawn care chemicals, and stormwater runoff from the neighborhood which includes the area between Lathrop Avenue and Ohio Street and south of Taylor Avenue.  Several overflow stormwater pipes that drain into the lake were updated.

 

5)      Next, the lakebed was dredged to an average depth of 6-8 feet, with several large areas much deeper for better aquaculture and to support fish stocking.  Removed lakebed material was used to regrade the shoreline around the lake.  Some areas of the shoreline were very steep and dangerous which reduced accessibility.  By regrading the area with a 5:1 or 4:1 slope, safety was increased, erosion is better managed, and views of and access to the lake are plentiful.  Repositioning of large quantities of dirt changed the shape of the lake and make it slightly smaller, but in doing so, it’s aquaculture is tremendously better.  Everyone wins with that.

 

6)      Concurrently, we worked with the Village of Mount Pleasant to determine what was needed to create a road shoulder on Pleasant Lane, Country Lane and/or Wood Lane.  Several of the drainpipes were replaced as appropriate to improve performance and safety.

 

7)      We developed a sustainable plan to maintain and enhance the environmental health of our shared lake for present and future generations.  This major investment requires regular upkeep to make the most of these exciting changes. In 2025, we worked with a native seed nursery to curate a custom mix of native seeds to fit our situation. Our mix included plants native to our zip code and climate, that were mostly sun loving, and those that thrived in high clay content soil.  That gives us the best change for success in this effort.

 

8)      In October 2025, and planted Wisconsin native seeds and plants around the lake and on our now larger islands. Native plants attract pollinators, filter chemicals out of water runoff, and reduce erosion through deep root systems. Our lake water will remain cleaner much longer because of our planting efforts. Our seed mix needed a winter freeze in order to fully germinate.
 

9)      In 2026, our native Wisconsin plantings will begin to grow, however most of that growth will be in developing a strong root system underground so the plant above ground will seem small.  This "sleep stage" is expected and will at first seem underwhelming.  In the second year after planting (2027), the plants will "creep" meaning they will get bigger and fuller, but not fully grown.  The third year our plantings will "leap" to full growth.  2028 will bring a lot of color and bio-diversity.  Everyone wins with a healthy natural environment.

 

10)    Our hope is to add native fish to the lake in 2026 also to complement our turtles and frogs.