There’s so much sludge on the bottom of the Windmont Park lagoon that it’s only a couple of feet deep in some places.
But the amount of sludge is decreasing, thanks to the Kewanee Park District and Ratliff Brothers.
The park district is paying Ratliff $75,000 to dredge the sludge out of the lagoon, a long-overdue operation that will benefit the lagoon’s fish population.
Andrew Dwyer, executive director of the park district, said a “silt survey” of the lagoon estimated that there were 3,082 cubic feet of sludge at the bottom.
Dwyer said the silt survey will allow for the dredging to concentrate on areas where the buildup is greater and pass over areas where the sludge isn’t very deep.
The sludge content is decreasing day by day, as a Ratliff crane dips a bucket into the water, pulls out loads of sludge and dumps it into a truck.
The sludge is being hauled to a farm where it is being spread out to dry, Dwyer said.
He said he hopes the drudging can be completed before Memorial Day. The goal is to be finished at least by the annual fishing derby, which will be on June 6.
