If Carlyle Lake is a part of your life, please join CLA now by completting the membership application.

CLICK HERE for a CLA membership application.

What We Do

CLA acts as the one voice for the many diverse interests in Carlyle Lake. It is recognized by many government and business entities connected with the lake as the one organization that speaks for the users of the lake. Some of these entities are:

1. •The US Army Corps of Engineers, which manages the lake level.
   

2. •The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which manages two state parks adjoining the lake
   

3. •The Carlyle Lake Chamber of Commerce
   

4. •The Soil and Water Conservation Districts in the watershed of Carlyle Lake
   

5. •The Kaskaskia Watershed Association, made up of stakeholder groups similar to CLA throughout the Kaskaskia River watershed
   

Also, CLA is a principal stakeholder in the Carlyle Lake Ecosystem Partnership. Ecosystem Partnerships are a program administered by the Illinois Department of Public Resources to preserve and restore Illinois natural resources.

CLA has been instrumental in winning funds for programs to reduce soil erosion, improve water quality, improve fish and wildlife habitat, upgrade facilities, and enhance recreation throughout the Carlyle Lake watershed.

Your representatives on the CLA Board of Directors:

Agriculture

Edwin Luebbers (618) 594-2343

Jeff Tischhauser (618) 664-3541

Boating, Sailing

Ted Beier (314) 353-3168

Cal Guthrie (618) 910-2164

Business

Don Berdeaux (618) 594-3050

Open

Fish and Wildlife

Bill Fritz (618) 594-2589

Chuck White (217) 536-5336

Landowners

Gerald Donaldson (618) 594-3379

Gale Meseke (618) 846-4981

Marina Management

Greg Kintz (636) 537-7843

Dennis Smith (618) 226-3223

At Large

Randy Heuberger (618) 749-5336

Emeritus

Jim Harris (314) 966-8404

Our Accomplishments / Issues, 2010

Water Control Coordination CLA worked in cooperation with the other interests along the Kaskaskia River to provide a coordinated voice to the Corps Water Control office. This was successful in avoiding major flooding during the 2010 recreation season, while maintaining slightly higher levels in May and early June to improve the fish spawn. This fall requested that ACOE delay the winter drawdown until late December to provide a sufficient water level in the north end of the lake for a successful waterfowl season, which was quite successful.

Development of Dredging and Bank Stabilization Capability at Carlyle – This continues to be one of our top priorities, and progress continues. Planning to move a motorized sectional barge assembly from the Kaskaskia lock to Carlyle is the next step, followed by the execution of a demonstration project.

North End of Lake Study by CLA – Our study of the status and future of this area, north of the railroad causeway, is continuing. The results of the 2009 ACOE depth survey of that portion of the lake indicate that the river channel where it enters the lake just south of the State Wildlife Management Area (SWMA) is only about two feet deep at a lake level of 445 NVDG instead of the 10 foot depth noted 20 years ago. The study’s pending conclusion is that frequent local flooding will occur, severely impacting the operation of SWMA because the river cannot pass the amount of water required during periods of high flow after significant rain events.  Restoring the channel by dredging without correcting the up-stream bank erosion will be a temporary solution at best. During recent field reconnaissance, we have noted that a significant portion of the levee restoration performed by a grant secured by CLA has been damaged by this frequent flooding in the past several years. Bank stabilization in the Kaskaskia River north of the lake is one of the top items in our work plan.

Monitor of Government Actions / I-70 Exit Changes – CLA monitors government agencies that have an effect on Carlyle Lake and its stakeholder activities. As an example CLA became aware that the Illinois Department of Transportation was considering building a new interchange on Interstate Highway 70 at Highland and closing the Exit at Pierron. The Pierron exit is part of the route of choice to Carlyle Lake for many lake users, and its close would be a major inconvenience to them, which will have an economic impact. CLA mobilized the various stakeholders to contact IDOT and resist the potential closure. CLA will continue this “watchdog” function, and others, in the years to come.

Invasive Species Education – CLA directors have heard numerous presentations on the danger to the Carlyle Lake environment posed by various invasive species of animals and plants. Most of these can be unknowingly carried in by recreation enthusiasts who do not know how to avoid their spread or the dangers of same. We are gathering material to create a brochure to provide the necessary information for dissemination to the recreation community.

Coordination With Related Organizations – During the year, your CLA president and directors have participated in meetings with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, US Army Corps of Engineers, US Farm Service Agency, members of the US Congress, and Kaskaskia Watershed Association to promote the needs of Carlyle Lake.

Coordination With Local Organizations and Interests – CLA continues our contribution to the annual Carlyle and Keyesport fireworks displays, which are noteworthy attractions for Carlyle Lake recreation.

Participation in Kaskaskia Watershed Association (KWA)

CLA continues to hold five positions on the Board of Directors of KWA, including the presidency of the organization. (KWA is made up of six stakeholder organizations from along the Kaskaskia of which CLA is one.) Many current issues are common to both organizations.

WRDA – This federally authorized program requires an appropriation of $400,000 to initiate the necessary “first step” ACOE planning study. KWA has learned that Congress must appropriate funds specifically for this purpose before it can begin, however, such an appropriation will happen only if ACOE or a legislator champions its inclusion in the federal budget. We are working hard to get this amount included by Congress.

Coordination with IDNR – Representatives of KWA met with Marc Miller, the IDNR head several times during 2010. IDNR agreed to be KWAs costshare partner in any future WRDA projects requiring cost-share, and to help with our efforts to get this program moving. Also, we discussed finalization of the CREP Program (see below). In October 2010 IDNR announced that the Kaskaskia River watershed had been added to the CREP Program.

Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) – The State of Illinois is expanding this program to watersheds throughout the state, and has appropriated $45M over three years to implement it. Only the Kaskaskia Watershed is able to take advantage of this because of the extensive preparation undertaken over the past ten years by KWA/CLA. This can be an important program to enhance clean water and reduce siltation, and will help reduce the siltation clogging the river at the north end of Carlyle Lake.

Who We Are

The Carlyle Lake Association (CLA) is an organization of citizens (stakeholders) concerned about conditions at Carlyle Lake. The lake has become a treasured resource to thousands of people from throughout southern Illinois and the St. Louis metropolitan area. These include:

1. •Sailing and boating at the lake
   

2. •Enjoying exceptional campgrounds
   

3. •Taking opportunities to hike, hunt, fish and observe wildlife
   

4. •Growing crops near the lake
   

5. •Living in the area
   

6. •Running a business that depends on the lake