On March 25th 2007 30,000 gallons of partially treated sewage spilled out of the WWTP through the loading dock doors. A passerby noticed and called the police. Three pumps at the facility failed and there was no alarm system to alert authorities. The Director of St. Peter Public Works, Lew Giesking, stated there is now an alarm system in place. He estimated 15,000 gallons of sewage went into the Gault street storm detention basin. Fortunately the DNR forced the closure of the bottom storm sewer last year or it would've likely went directly into Lake Hallett. The system was leaking into the lake at the time so the LHA requested an e-coli test be taken to assure public safety. Lew Giesking stated the test was fine but we are still awaiting a copy. We have again requested that in the future the LHA be notified of any similar incidents, which could jeopardize the safety of people using the lake, so the public can be warned.

At this point development may be inevitable. We would like to purchase the property for a community park and protect this valuable community resource for future generations. Unfortunately the government of the City of Saint Peter does not support this idea and would like to see the property developed. So far there have not been enough interested people in this community talking to their City Council Representatives to change this stance. We can hope that the Saint Peter City Council will at the very least enforce the Minnesota State Shoreline Ordinance that requires a setback from the lake. The current City zoning allows for development right to the lakeshore. This development is slated to begin in the near future and will make it unlikely that community events such as the Polar Plunge and the Fire Departments Ice fishing Contest could continue to be held there.

Tom Hausenbauer, Kevin Petry, Paul Schwichtenberg and Trudi Olmanson have gone through the training process, completed a plan and received a $1500 grant to implement a Citizen's Volunteer Lake Monitoring Plan for the summer of 2007 to assess and monitor the water quality in Lake Hallett located in Saint Peter. The plan will determine if the city's use of the lake for storm water has impaired the water quality so as to require cleanup or remedial measures.

The Department of Natural Resources prohibited the city from using the lake for storm water retention in 2006 but the current system continues to overflow into the lake during storm events. The Lake Hallett Association plans to monitor the effects of this overflow and any impact from future development of the property surrounding the lake.

We could not have come this far in our quest to protect Lake Hallett without your moral and financial support. THANK YOU! Anyone wishing to make a donation can send a check to the Lake Hallett Association, 302 Saint Julien Street, Saint Peter, MN 56082 or you can now make a payment through Paypal at www.lakehallett.com.

There has been lots of wildlife activity on the lake including a Bald Eagle, Great Blue Heron, Green Herons, Forster's Terns, Merganser and Mallard ducks. The Secchi readings (water clarity) this Spring have been over 10 feet making Crappies, Sunfish, Large Mouth Bass and Turtles easily visible from the shore.