The House Capital Investment Committee will stop in Albert Lea Wednesday morning to hear a request for $7.5 million in state bonding funds for the $15 million dredging of Fountain Lake.

On a tour around the state to hear more about potential bonding projects, the committee is slated to be at the Edgewater Pavilion at 9:30 a.m. There, representatives from the Shell Rock River Watershed District will give a presentation about the past, current and future efforts made to clean up the lake, which has become filled with sediment over the years. This has resulted in water quality impairment and large algae blooms nearly every year.

City, county, business and community leaders will also be on hand to participate.

A news release sent out by the Shell Rock River Watershed District states, “Years of previous restoration efforts have prepared the community for this restoration project.”

Some of those efforts have included miles of filter strips of land on waterways from agricultural fields, residential and commercial storm water control, rock inlets, shoreline restoration, rough fish barriers, rain gardens and the restoration of Pickerel Lake.

“Restoration of Fountain Lake is the next step in restoring water quality to our community — improving water quality, improving fish and and wildlife habitat and enhancing its recreation value to the community,” the release states.

The project calls for studies, permits, land acquisition, construction and sediment removal.

The remainder of the project would be financed through matching funds from local, federal and other grants.

The committee also will hear a request for the Blazing Star Trail.

The committee, made up of 21 representatives, is lead by Rep. Alice Hausman, DFL-St. Paul. The ranking Republican is Rep. Matt Dean of Dellwood.