Al Layman, a member of the Cedar River Watershed District’s Board of Managers, submitted the organization’s proposed 10-year plan for approval from Austin Izaak Walton League Chapter No. 10 membership Monday night.

When he was through, the chapter’s members showed keen interest in actions over words.

Layman, who is treasurer of the Ikes chapter, first described how the special purpose unit of government was created in 2007 to address flood control and water management issues.

The seven-member CRWD board seeks to develop and maintain cooperative relationships with stakeholders in the four-county, 24-township, 11-city area surrounding the city of Austin.

According to Layman, the CRWD’s goals include flood control, water quality, urban and agricultural drainage systems, erosion and sediment control, wetlands and natural resources and land use among other strategies.

Presently, Layman and other CRWD board members are taking the proposed 10-year plan to local government entities and environmental and conservation groups in the area, seeking their input.

Presenting the plan to the Ikes organization was an example of making them stakeholders in the future of the plan’s implementation.

The first recommendation Layman heard came from Lloyd Swenson.”We need to plant more trees. We don’t need to cut them down for any reason,” Swenson said.

Larry Dolphin, president of Chapter No. 10, said the problems being addressed”need an action plan and not another study.”

Dolphin pointed to the city of Austin’s East Side Lake as an example of”too much talk and not enough action.”

Despite 12 recommendations to help solve flooding, erosion and sediment control, the East Side Lake plan was not deemed cost effective to implement any of the recommendations and the problems allowed to grow.

Arlen Schamber suggested the new Light Detection and Ranging remote sensing system used to collect topographic data could be utilized to measure the flow of water into Austin.

Jim and Merlene Stiles deplored allowing water runoff for economic development projects. They said the use of rain gardens could help alleviate those problems.

Leo Reding, a former state legislator, said there are laws in place to ensure that is done.

Bill Buckley, following up on Dolphin’s observations about East Side Lake studies going ignored, said government can’t help unless cost benefits to doing a project are proven.

Much discussion came over the mention of the issue of impaired waters — particularly the Cedar River which flows through Austin.

Layman asked,”Are we satisfied with the Cedar River as it is flowing through Austin?”

The Ikes members had several opinions on the impaired stream, which frequently floods the city.

At Merlene Stiles’ suggested more natural vegetation should be allowed to grow along the banks of the Cedar River. There was unanimity for not placing rip-rap along the banks.

Terry Dorsey said the Ikes should post signs along impaired waterways such as the Cedar River, saying no wading or swimming are allowed because the waterway is impaired and endangers health.

Steven Williams called it”shock and awe” and said it could prompt the public’s call for immediate action.

“Maybe, that’s the point that needs to be made,” Dorsey agreed.

Layman praised the input on the proposed 10-year plan he received from the Ikes members.

He said an”open dialogue is needed” between the public and private sectors to weigh the benefits and disadvantages of the plan’s proposals.