The Grant County commissioners met in regular session Tuesday, December 5, to discuss the water elevations of Lake Albert. The board was addressed by... Grant County Commissioners Discuss Water Levels of Lake Albert

The Grant County commissioners met in regular session Tuesday, December 5, to discuss the water elevations of Lake Albert.

The board was addressed by Jim DeWald of Big Stone Township, Burt Loehrer of Alban Township and Dave Van Veen, private landowner. They discussed the situation with the commission to see what the county could do to help alleviate the issue.

The current elevation of the lake is approximately 1,056.2 feet, about 1.5 feet above the high water mark, according to County Auditor Karen Layher. The group explained that the main outlet along the south end of the lake is continuously plugged by trees, branches, sand and other debris causing the water to not flow as it should.

After a lengthy discussion, it was determined that Layher will consult with other entities such as the Department of Natural Resources and the Natural Resources Conservation Service to determine who would be responsible for the cleanup of the area in an effort to restore the lake to its normal elevation.

“The goal is to get the elevation of the lake down significantly,” said Layher. “We are just unsure who’s responsibility that is because the affected land is privately owned with no public access to the area.”

The board approved a contract with Chad Nelson to serve as the Public Defender of Grant County for 2018.

The next meeting of the Grant County Commissioners was set for Tuesday, December 19, at 8 a.m.

Staff Writer