A visit to Olson Lake at Rock Cut State Park didn't change the outlook of Wayne Rosenthal, Director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, for reopening the lake to swimmers.
Rosenthal says his department has an $800 million maintenance backlog, and that a dredging machine which would solve the lake's silt problem requires $450,000 in repairs.
The DNR closed Olson Lake and beach in late March due to excessive silt buildup, which they claim caused a reduction in water quality. Rosenthal has promised to dredge the lake, but he has offered no timetable for the work.
DNR currently lacks the funds to fix the machine due to the continuing budget impasse between Gov. Bruce Rauner and the General Assembly.
The Rockford Register Star reports that Republican State Rep. John Cabello plans to file a bill creating a lottery ticket that would funnel proceeds to IDNR instead of adding a yearly vehicle fee. All but eight states use a vehicle fee to fund park maintenance.