NEWS
UPDATE: Lake Delton: One Year Later
UPDATED Thursday, November 19, 2009 --- 7:15 a.m
LAKE DELTON, Wis. (AP) -- State fishing experts say restocking on Lake Delton is working well so far.
Department of Natural Resources workers boom-shocked the lake in September. They sent an electric current through the lake that momentarily stunned the fish, causing them to float to the surface so workers could measure them.
Scot Stewart, a DNR fisheries supervisor, says fish were everywhere. He says walleye in the lake now average almost 10 inches long.
He says walleye and bass should reach their legal size limits by fall of 2011.
Lake Delton drained away into the Wisconsin River in 2008 after torrential rains eroded a section of shoreline. The DNR began to refill the lake in December 2008. Restocking efforts began this past spring.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
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UPDATED Friday, June 5, 2009 --- 5:30 p.m.
On Friday, Ashley Fromm celebrated her seventh birthday. But, it is her sixth that the family will never forget. Because just days later, they watched everything they own float down the Wisconsin River.
"It is still a surreal feeling when we pull into the area and we can still picture where our house used to be," said Tim Fromm as he stood where the breach occurred. Tim Fromm spoke exclusively to NBC15 News on Friday.
The last year has been a struggle for the family who now live in North Prairie. And it's not over yet.
"This was not an act of God. It was an act of negligence," stated Fromm.
On June 1, the Fromms and the four other landowners who lost property in the flood, filed a claim against the Village of Lake Delton for $1.4 million claiming that the breach, "Was preventable by the exercise of proper foresight, planning, and action by the Village."
The claim says the dam's gates were not open wide enough and the Village had no contingency plan for the rising water. But their biggest complaint may be that in 2001 FEMA label that area a flood plain and prohibited building. They claim the village overlooked that and allowed homes to be built anyway.
"If they are successful in proving negligence I'll be really surprised," said Village Trustee and Tommy Bartlett owner Tom Diehl.
"For someone to say that the Village, that I am an integral part of being that I am on the board, did anything from their standpoint of being negligent. Why would I want to ruin my own business. We live and die by the water," said Diehl.
But Fromm is not stopping with his claim against the Village. He wants his land back.
"As we stand here I see plenty of land that we can rebuild our homes on. And if the job was done properly," he said, "there should be no reason why we can't repurchase the land."
But according to the DOT, which bought the nine lost lots from the landowners for more than $2 million, that land was needed to rebuild County Road A, and it's not for sale.
"By no stretch of the imagination it was absolutely our dream home," said Fromm.
A dream home that Ashley maybe able to celebrate a future birthday in as they overlook Lake Delton.
The Village has 120 days from June first to accept or deny the claim. If they deny it a lawsuit will officially be filed.
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UPDATED Monday, April 20, 2009 at 3:30 p.m.
As far as looks are concerned Lake Delton appears to be back to normal. The water level is only one foot lower than it was this time last year. But a very important part of the lake was still missing, until Monday that is.
With a handshake and a dumping of minnows into Lake Delton, the restoration is one step closer to completion.
"One of the vacation spots of Wisconsin is the Dells area. So many people come up to this area and fall in love with Leinenkugel's that it makes sense for us to do this," said Trade Brewer John Leinenkugel.
Monday morning Leinenkugel Brewing Company donated $5,000 to the Lake Delton Fish Restoration Fund. They hope to eventually raise $40,000, to help with the delicate task of rebuilding the ecosystem.
The timing of the stocking was important because the minnows they put in will spawn in the early spring. So the nine-million they just put in the lake will become 30-million in a few weeks.
Then on June 9, the first game fish (Walleye) that will feed on those minnows will be reintroduced. And if that date sounds familiar, it should. It'll be the first anniversary of the breech.
Ben Hobbins with Lake Restoration is coordinating the re-stocking. They anticipate a three year, $200,000 project. And so far, they're right on track.
Said Hobbins, "We would like this to be a model that can be something transferable to other projects. In the interest of the public good."
"I see a lot of great days ahead of us," said Village Trustee and owner of The Tommy Bartlett Show Tom Diehl. "I sat in our stadium on Saturday. It was a warm, beautiful, 70 degree day. And took a half an hour to look out at that most beautiful natural resource we have back."
If you are interested in helping restock Lake Delton you can buy five dollar paper canoes from Leinenkugel's. They are available wherever Leinenkugel's is sold. All the proceeds go towards the Restoration Fund.
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UPDATED Monday, April 20, 2009 --- 11:25 a.m.
LAKE DELTON, Wis. (AP) -- Area tourism officials have taken the first steps toward restocking fish in the restored Lake Delton.
Workers from Gollon Bait and Fish Farm shot more than 100,000 minnows through a tube from a tanker truck into the cold, black water Monday.
The minnows will serve as food for larger game fish to be stocked in June.
Scot Stewart is a state Department of Natural Resources regional fisheries supervisor. He says it could be several years before the fish grow to decent size.
A section of the manmade lake's shore washed away during thunderstorms last June. The entire lake drained through the opening. State and local officials have been racing to refill the lake in time for this summer's tourist season.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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UPDATED Thursday, February 26, 2009 --- 1:10 p.m.
From the Governor's Office:
Governor Doyle Announces Lake Delton On Track to be Refilled by Memorial Day
MADISON – Governor Jim Doyle today announced the Department of Natural Resources expects Lake Delton to be refilled by Memorial Day 2009 and, with help from local groups, will begin to restore the lake’s fishery this spring.
“I am pleased to announce we are confident that Lake Delton will be refilled in time for families throughout the country to enjoy Lake Delton this summer,” said Governor Doyle. “Lake Delton is a Wisconsin treasure and a critical component of the area’s tourism industry. Finishing this project has been a top priority since last year’s flooding. Within a few years fishing on Lake Delton will be better than it has been in generations and a great place to land a trophy walleye and bass.”
The lake began refilling in December 2008 after reconstruction work was launched on County Highway A. Enough work was completed in the fall to allow the lake to partially fill and additional work will be completed to allow the lake to reach proper levels by Memorial Day.
The state will be stocking fish into Lake Delton beginning in early spring and continuing through 2011. Fish slated for stocking include largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, bluegill, black crappie, channel catfish, fathead minnows, golden shiners and white suckers. It will take three to four years of growth for the bass and walleye to reach keepable size.
After the lake drained, a carp eradication project was conducted on the portion of Dell Creek flowing between Mirror Lake and Lake Delton and in a Coffer Dam Pool on the lakebed. This is good news for anglers as carp compete with native fish species, destroy aquatic habitat, roil water and stir up sediment, reducing water clarity.
State agencies including the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Transportation and the Department of Tourism worked with local businesses, governments, organizations and individuals to make the Lake Delton restoration project a success. In less than one year, together they will have rebuilt roads, bolstered dams, refilled Lake Delton and begun work to restock the lake with fish.
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UPDATED Friday, December 5, 2008 --- 5:00 p.m.
What seemed almost impossible six months ago is now official.
Lake Delton is part of a billion dollar tourism industry in Sauk Country and on Friday Governor Jim Doyle held a ribbon cutting ceremony to kick off its new beginning.
"Are we ready? Ready. Alright," said the Governor as he cut the ribbon and the crowd cheered.
When Governor Doyle cut the ribbon to officially re-file Lake Delton and re-opening County Trunk A, it was time to rejoice for a city, county and state.
Said the Governor, "What happened from that day to this point is a real tribute to the citizens of this region, and to a lot of people in the departments of natural resources, transportation, village government, city government."
A tribute indeed, considered the scene less than six months ago. One hundred yards of County A, a 270 Acre Lake, and five houses were all lost when they flowed into the Wisconsin River. Including one home that fell on live television.
The day after the breach the rebuilding began as crews worked to finish before winter. In late November, repairs to the dam were complete. A new spillway with larger gates will help to better control the flow of water.
To repair the breach itself a protective wall was installed in the ground that reaches 120 feet deep in some places. Above the wall sits County Trunk A, and a massive amount of rocks for extra support.
"Monday is six months to the day since the breach occurred. And sitting back at looking at what has transpired and what we have accomplished in those six months is kind of awesome actually," stated the assistant village engineer Paul Werner.
"The greater Dells community that depends so much on Lake Delton will be back stronger than ever. So thank you all very much and on Wisconsin," concluded the Governor.
The final stage of the Lake Delton restoration is when the lake opens again to recreation. Officials hope that can happen in early May.
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UPDATED Friday, December 5, 2008 --- 12:30 p.m.
LAKE DELTON, Wis. (AP) -- As efforts to refill Lake Delton continue, Gov. Jim Doyle officially reopened a Wisconsin Dells highway that was washed away by summer flooding.
Lake Delton drained away to the Wisconsin River in June after heavy storms eroded its banks, taking five shoreline homes with it.
On Wednesday, workers closed the gates on the lake's renovated dam. That allowed Dell Creek to start filling up the lake basin again.
Doyle visited the site Friday, putting an official stamp on the reopening of County Highway A.
He says the restorations efforts signal a new beginning for the entire community and for tourists who enjoy the area.
The lake will be brought to a depth of about seven feet. With snow melt and rain, the average depth should be 12 feet by May.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
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UPDATED Wednesday, December 3, 2008 --- 4.15 p.m.
Before Lake Delton can be restored to a viable lake following June's catastrophic breach, the Department of Natural Resources is working to eliminate an invasive species that would threaten the lake's fishery.
Andy Morton with the Department of Natural Resources says, "This is the first step in restoration." Andy Morton is talking about the D-N-R crews from around the state are on Lake Delton breaking up the ice so they can distribute a chemical to kill the remaining carp, an invasive species that survived the catastrophic breach of 267 acre Lake Delton back in June. Morton says, "We will be treating the remaining pool areas with rotenone, an EPA registered chemical that will kill Carp and other fish."
It's a step that if not taken, could have devastating effects on the future vitality of the lake. Morton says, "By removing the rough fish, the Carp which compete and cause problems with water clarity and stirring up the water and actually consuming game fish eggs, the game fish such as bass, blue gill, and walleye will have a better chance to establish a good, viable fishery."
Eventually the chemical will dilute to a level that will allow fish to sustain life, once the lake is refilled and then restocked. Morton says, "We're looking to see a fishery that will support a good sport fishery and provide good recreational opportunity for anglers and restore Lake Delton back to the lake that it once was or even improve on that." An ambitious goal that will take time. Morton says, "We'll certainly see some results first season, but it could take several seasons before it's as good or better than it was before."
Once crews finish up on the lake, their next job will be to refill the lake on Friday, with water from Dell Creek.
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UPDATED Wednesday, December 3, 2008 --- 12:15 p.m.
Clarification: The gates are closed while they do the fish kill. Once that is finished, they will open the gates and the water at Mirror Lake Dam should start flowing again, in essence filling Lake Delton. But this won't happen "officially" until Friday morning.
LAKE DELTON, Wis. (AP) -- Efforts to refill vanished Lake Delton are under way.
Workers closed the gates on the lake's renovated dam Wednesday morning. That shut-off will allow Dell Creek to start filling up the lake basin again.
Lake Delton drained away to the Wisconsin River in June after heavy storms eroded its banks, taking five shoreline homes with it. Video of the homes breaking up was broadcast around the world.
Engineers plan to keep the lake about half-full through the winter. That could take weeks, depending on the weather. They'll let it fill up in spring, in time for anglers, boaters and water skiers to get back on the water.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
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UPDATED Sunday, November 30, 2008 --- 11:55 a.m.
LAKE DELTON, Wis. (AP) -- State transportation officials have reopened part of a highway washed away when Lake Delton vanished this summer.
Heavy rains on June 9 tore a new channel from the lake to the Wisconsin River. The lake drained dry, taking homes and a section of County Highway A with it.
The state Transportation Department has spent about $5 million on repairs since then. It's built a dam in front of the breach, filled the hole with new earth and a reinforcing wall and laid 650 feet of new highway on top.
Bill Oliva is the project supervisor for the state.
State and local officials hope to begin refilling the lake perhaps as early as this week.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
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Posted Monday, November 24, 2008 --- 5:25 p.m.
Six months after Lake Delton breached its banks and it's still gaining national attention.
Said Tom Diehl a Village of Lake Delton Trustee, "The Dells area in the totality had a difficult summer because of the negative publicity surrounding it. So, when the Discovery Channel wants to come up and put a positive spin on it that the lake is going to be back we look forward to accommodating them."
The Discovery Channel came to town to highlight the incredible progress Lake Delton has seen in recent months.
Monday afternoon construction crews poured the last of the concrete for the dam. A new spillway will allow excess water to flow out of the lake. Plus, the gates have been enlarged to better control the flow of water.
"The improvements to this dam are to ensure that what happened in June could never happen again," added Diehl.
The repair of the breach itself is finished. Under all the pilled up rock that fills in the hole, is a protective wall, 120 feet deep in some places, that prevents water from passing through it. Above the wall sits County Trunk A, which is now paved and should be open to traffic by the end of the week.
Now the only thing left to do is close the gates and let the lake refill. And that is scheduled to happen one week from Monday on December first.
"It was quite a feet that was accomplished in less than six months," concluded Diehl.
Added Werner, "The people, the crews working over on the dam take a lot of pride in what they did so they can stand back and say, 'yeah, my name is on that.'"
Before the lake will be allowed to completely fill, which should happen by spring, the DNR will treat the water with a chemical to kill the nuisance fish like carp.
The Discovery Channel feature will air sometime early 2009.
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