Can you think of a dredge name?

Published 8:30 am Sunday, August 11, 2013

The Lakes Foundation of Albert Lea is asking for the public’s help in naming the Shell Rock River Watershed District’s dredge.

The foundation received 31 entries for the Name the Dredge Contest and has narrowed them down to 10, said Connie Kaupa, office manager for the watershed district.

The submissions are:

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• Sediment AL Journeys

• Mud Monster

• The Dredginator

• Colonel Albert Lea

• Big AL

• Progress

• Sediment Piranha

• The Spirit of Albert Lea

• Dredgie

• Perseverance

People can vote for their favorite name through a poll at the Tribune’s website or by calling the Albert Lea Convention and Visitors Bureau at 373-2316 or the Shell Rock River Watershed District at 377-5785.

The poll will be online at www.albertleatribune.com to midday Aug. 19.

The district purchased the dredge last fall for about $340,000, along with the pipes, pumping and other equipment necessary to pump the dredge material away from the lake for $435,000. The equipment would be used first on Fountain Lake and then could be used on other area lakes. The entire Fountain Lake dredging is estimated to cost $15 million.

The winning name will be announced at the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours Aug. 20 at the new Edgewater Park pavilion. The dredge will be on display that evening.