The Albert Lea Lake management plan, the first step toward getting something accomplished in the way of lake cleanup, is finally complete. It’s the result of more than two years of discussion and effort &045; and these last two years have only been the latest round of debate about what to do in the Shell Rock River Watershed.

While there may not be 100 percent consensus on the future of Albert Lea Lake, it appears that a majority of those who have been charged with making recommendations are in favor of a plan that includes the controversial idea of dredging part of the lake &045; in other words, scraping off layers of sediment off the bottom.

Dredging has always been one of the lightning-rod issues regarding lake cleanup, because its effects are hard to prove and it’s price tag is likely very high. The move is seen as a crucial step toward removing much of the accumulated sludge at the bottom of Albert Lea Lake, which would seem to pave the way for better water quality as well as more recreational opportunities.

Many questions remain to be answered about dredging, like how much it will cost and where to put a huge amount of dredged materials. But it appears that to reach the goal of making Albert Lea Lake more clean and more useable, dredging will need to be part of the plan.

The next step is funding, which has always been one of the stickiest issues. Perhaps now that a plan is in place, it will be easier to find grant funding or to make a case in the state legislature for bonding money or even a half-cent local sales tax.

For certain, lake advocates, despite slow going at times, have come further than at any other point, and although there’s

still much to be done &045; including finding answers to questions about dredging &045; meaningful change for the troubled lake may be near.