2007-2008 Officer Elections

Following the annual meeting Saturday, the board reconvened for the purpose of electing board officers.

On a motion made by Frank Micale and seconded by Jeff Folk:

Brian Christianson was reelected chairman;
Ray Lunder was reelected treasurer; and,
Ed Sandner was reelected secretary.

We will be posting the minutes of the annual meeting in the near future.

2007 Election Results

Ray Lunder was reelected with 102 votes. His term will expire in August of 2010.

Ed Sandner was elected with 93 votes. His term will also expire August 2010.

Steve Cline fell short with 39 votes.

The chair wishes to thank all 3 candidates for their willingness to serve the lake district as a volunteer commissioner.

2008 Special Charge Ratified

The 2007 annual meeting held Saturday at the Fort High School ratified the Board's proposal to reduce the special charge from $100 to $45 dollars per parcel.

The treasurer will be notifying the 3 county clerks of the special charge this fall, as new property tax bills are being prepared for mailing late in the year.

Comments RE; 2007 Annual Meeting

Brian,

The meeting was another success; lets keep up the good work. The majority of the people are behind the district and they definitely do not want to stop in our efforts for a more reasonable water level and are willing to fund it till all legal avenues have been exhausted.

Over the years we have spent nearly 1/2 million dollars doing the necessary research and another 400K + in legal fees for our experts to reach their conclusions that 7.2 inches of water will not harm private property, increase flooding or duration of flooding.

The district will continue to have detractors as there are in all governmental bodies but we can thank our countries founding fathers for making this a free society where the will of the people & the majority rules.

Keep up the good work!

Jim

Rock River Aero modelers Society - 9-9-2007

Brian

Our flying club, Rock River Aero modelers Society, plans to hold a float fly with model airplanes at the Highwood Club grounds on Lake Koshkonong Sept 9th from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Usually this kind of event closes a little earlier being that is on a Sunday. I ran the idea by Don Busch at the DNR and he suggested that I run it by you so you will be aware of our event. There didn't seem to be any objection on his part and I want to address any issues that may come up concerning this event prior to it.

This is a sanctioned event by the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AKA as the AMA). At the present time it is expected that approximately 20 pilots and planes will be present depending on the weather. Since this is the first event that has been in this area that I am aware of in several years there may be some interest to you and others. Some of the planes that will be there will be scale models of the real thing. Some of these planes are technologically advanced and hopefully there will be some of them present to make an interesting day to say the least. All AMA safety rules will be in effect and enforced.

Bob King

Thurs Rain

Lake levels have increased 1.32 inches with yesterday's rain - we are now back to summer target = 776.24

Reports are that heavier rainfall amounts north in Watertown will be flowing down the Rock into the lake during the coming days.

For the past week, all gates at Indianford have been closed. That will change this weekend.

Vilas urges no

From the Vilas County News-Review HERE

Convinced that it would mean more county zoning staff and added engineering expenses for property owners, the Vilas County Board voted 16-0 last Thursday to oppose the state’s latest draft of its shoreland zoning code.

The county’s opposition to a major rewrite of Chapter NR 115 of the Administrative Code came less than a week before the state’s public hearing in Rhinelander, which is scheduled for this Wednesday, July 25, at the high school auditorium.

Historic Lake Maps Now On Website

Click HERE

Frank Micale found his hand drawn collection of lake maps depicting several options of how Koshkonong might be "improved" for future generations.

The best anyone can guess is these maps were drafted sometime during the late 1950s or early 1960s.

We recently had them professionally scanned so we could share these maps with everyone. We also had them enlarged and will have them at the annual meeting on Saturday.

A few are just plain goofy. One is workable. And one - building a giant Atoll in the lake with a bridge/causeway traveling across the lake via the atoll , is really out-of-the-box dreaming.

Note that cars would enter onto the causeway from roughly Ray Lunder's frontyard, and then proceed across the lake and exit roughly in Jeff Folk's backyard.

Sure would make Ray's drive to Norm's Hideaway that much quicker.

Proposed shoreland changes meet fierce opposition

From the Lakeland Times

The Vilas County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously this week to oppose the DNR's proposed revisions to NR115, the state's shoreland zoning administrative rule.

...If the amendments are approved, supervisors argued, they will result in the need for additional county zoning staff, department office space and other costs to the county.

The consensus among supervisors and zoning staff was that the DNR's amendment is very difficult to understand on paper and unworkable in practice, particularly as it applies to existing structures, as well as new buildings.

...NR115 regulations do not apply in incorporated areas such as Madison and other cities

..."There are 1,300 lakes in Vilas County," she said. "So we have the most to lose. Yet this NR115 of the DNR says that one size fits all. It's taken them five years just to get this draft to us, and there's nothing simple in it for property owners."

Hassett quits DNR

From the Janesville Gazette HERE

...Hassett said he'd been pondering quitting for nearly a month. He declined to say why, but called the job "pretty fast-paced" and not something he planned to do forever.

"I'm just going to hold my thoughts to myself for a while," Hassett said. "We've done some great things together, the governor and I and this administration."

...George Meyer, executive director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, served as DNR secretary from 1993 until 2001.

He said he's known Frank for several years, and while he's a good lawyer and manager, he may not have the outdoors experience the DNR's leader needs.

"He needs to really get out and meet the groups he'll be working with," Meyer said.

Frank said he grew up in rural Cross Plains, a block from a trout stream. He fishes but doesn't hunt, he said, but he appreciates that hunting is a family tradition in Wisconsin.

Manure Runoff

From the Milw Journal Sentinel HERE

...The largest farms in Wisconsin today, referred to as concentrated animal feeding operations in regulatory parlance, each produce as much organic waste as a city of 18,000, but this stuff typically isn't sent to treatment facilities. It is mixed with water to form a chocolate shakelike concoction that is sprayed or injected into farm fields.

This accomplishes two things: It provides an easy-to-apply crop fertilizer; and it gets rid of the feces that piles up so quickly.

Yet spreading liquid manure is a potentially big environmental and public health issue in places such as eastern Manitowoc County, where the clay-rich soil is slow to drain. To keep those croplands from turning into oversized puddles in big rains or snowmelts, fields have been laced with underground plumbing, called drain tiles. Those pipes carry excess water to the field's edge, where it spills into ditches or creeks.

..."Small farms, large farms, they're all basically converting to liquid manure, and it seems to have increased the frequency of fish kills," Hogler says. "It really started in the early to mid '90s."

Tooley says he is baffled state regulators aren't doing more to figure out what kind of mess they might have on their hands.

"Nobody wants to touch it," he says. "We're America's Dairyland."

Low Water is Here

Lake Level is at 776.13 today. All gates are closed.

Dry Spell Still Casts Over Madison

We've had virtually no rain in the last three weeks and that's leaving area plants in jeopardy. That lack of rain is especially harmful for newly planted trees.

Meet Candidate Ed Sandner

My name is Ed Sandner.

I am currently the Recording Secretary of the RKLD Board of Directors.

I was appointed to the Board this past year and elected to the position of Recording Secretary.

I have attended many Board meetings over the years and was present at the contested case to voice my opinion. I would like to continue as a Board member for the next term.

The Board needs to be receptive to the direction of the members of the District. This past month we voted to reduce the special assessment for the year to $45.00 per parcel. That number is down from the $100.00 figure of last year.

My family has owned property on our lake since 1961 and I am determined to continue with the improvements to the water quality and depth.

I have been a member of Local 701 IBEW since 1968. I have been employed by an electrical contractor in Libertyville Illinois since 1985, presently as a Construction Manager/ Superintendent. I am responsible for approximately $20 million dollars worth of projects per year and supervise up to 90 people.

I believe my experience as a supervisor of people, projects and budgets will be very useful as we continue to seek grants for projects to improve Lake Koshkonong.

Thanks Ed

Meet Candidate Ray Lunder

My name is Ray Lunder. I’m 44 years old, live on Bingham’s Point on Lake Koshkonong and work at American Family Insurance Company as an Applications Technology Manager of Information Systems.

In 1999, I was a member of the formation of the original Lake District team. The Lake District was formed and the first board was elected. At that time, I was happy with the current board, and participated with the Lake District as a volunteer, attending all meetings, and created the original Lake District website to help get all of our information out to the general public in a cost effective manner. As time went by, I didn’t agree with the beliefs of some members of the Lake District, so in 2001 I ran for a board position, was elected, and voted by the board to the Secretary position. I am currently the Treasurer after being voted into this position in 2005.

Over the years I have spent on the board, I am very pleased with the way the Board has listened to the constituents of the District, and created Budgets around projects that the members of the district clearly felt strongly about. From the ownership of the Indianford Dam to the current project of creating a stable, static water level for the lake and river system. And as a current board member and Treasurer, I am very pleased that our current budget is calling for a 55% reduction in our special charge, that we feel will support our current projects for the year.

I have been very pleased with the work the board has done in the past, and am looking forward to the continued progress we can make in the future. This is the primary reason for my running for reelection. I’m extremely committed to our current projects, and following them through to completion. I’m also looking forward to potential future projects, and am particularly interested in a possible dredging initiative, and am looking forward to learning everything I can about this technology. A great start will be listening to a presentation on dredging at the 2007 annual meeting.

In summary, it has been my privilege to serve on the board for the past 6 years, and am looking forward to a new term on the board. I feel myself and the board have done an excellent job listening to the desires of our membership in the past, and I know we have worked extremely hard at achieving our mutual goals. I feel the skills and experience I have in my job as Manager greatly enhance my ability to perform as a Lake District board member. I will continue to make decisions based on ALL recreational activity on the lake, and will continue the pursuit of improving the lake and river system as an extraordinary asset to the surrounding community.

I would very much appreciate your vote to continue on the Lake District Board.

Meet Candidate Steve Cline

My name is Steve Cline.



I’m 56 years young, originally from the Washington D.C. area and have been a Lake District resident since 2001. I am a C.P.A. with 20+ years experience as a Controller in large $100 million/year+ national law firms. I’m a member of the Fort Atkinson Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Koshkonong Park Committee, and Jefferson County Tourism Council. I have recently also gotten involved with the Heart of the City, Jefferson County Economic Development Consortium and am on the “Atkinson Diet” a low carbon emissions “diet” to trim personal or business energy usage and reduce contribution to global warming.

Ever since becoming a property owner in the Lake District, I have had to pay higher fees each year. I encourage all Lake District residents to question the validity of the fee increases. Please do not interpret my comments as criticism of past and present Lake District board members. I understand that they face multiple challenges and are forced to make tough decisions.

The Lake District Board will continue to encounter controversial problems and be forced to make difficult decisions in the future. At these times, it’s imperative to balance the interests of all stakeholders. I believe that financial management and fiscal responsibility are increasingly important in these events.

I am running for office because my skills will bring strength and depth to the financial management of the Lake District board, which will ultimately facilitate financial management and fiscal responsibility in the Lake District. I have great team building and negotiating skills that will enable me to serve as a unifying rather than dividing force in the Lake District. My background in large corporate financial management and strategic planning combined with my drive to do the proper research and logical reasoning will allow me to make well informed decisions without letting unsupported personal opinions or outside pressures interfere. I have an entrepreneurial spirit with an innate ability to envision the future and make positive change. Over the past 10 years I have developed many community and regulatory relationships which will be helpful to our Lake District as we move forward.

In conclusion, I would be privileged to serve on the Lake District board. I promise to work hard and serve the people in the Lake District to the best of my ability. My business experience, along with my strong public and regulatory relationships will add strength to an already solid board. My participation will add diversity and be the catalyst for the type of creative thinking needed during our challenging economic times. While serving on the board I will remain focused on what’s best for the town in the short and long term.

I solicit your vote to elect me to the Lake District Board. I greatly appreciate your consideration.

Today's Lake Level - 776.21

Today's lake level is virtually at target (776.20) with very little inflow from Jefferson as measured at Fort Atkinson.

All 6 slide gates are closed, as well as the 2 wicket gates. With the rain forecast over the next 3 days, expect gate openings.

River duty just another patrol

From the Beloit Daily News

...On Thursday evening, I took a ride with the Rock County Sheriff's Department Boat Patrol with deputies Matt Pyne and Craig Keller, as they patrolled the Rock River in Beloit and the Town of Beloit.

“It's just another patrol day, except I'm on the water instead of the highway,” Pyne said.

The sheriff's department has three patrol boats and one air boat. Pyne, who has been with the sheriff's department for 10 years, has done his fair share of patrolling the waters. Keller was hired as a deputy in April and being on the patrol boat is part of his training. Keller is also on the dive team for rescue operations.

Deputies from the sheriff's department try to come to the river in Beloit a couple of times a week. Pyne pointed out there are other bodies of water in the county needing patrol, like Clear Lake and Lake Koshkonong.

“It's a lot of water ways for one boat to cover,” he explained.

Power-loaders leave destruction in wakes

From the Green Bay Press Gazette HERE

When asked to name bush-league breeches of boat-ramp etiquette, some of us cite headlights left glaring while someone loads or launches a boat at night, or lone cars hogging slots reserved for vehicles with trailers.

...To be fair, most people who power on or off trailers expertly position their trailer and use a velvet throttle to nudge their boat forward or backward. An experienced, conscientious two-person team needs only seconds to quietly get in or out.

A few goobers, however, use the throttle to cover their every shortcoming, be it their masculinity or failure to stop their trailer at its proper depth. The roar of their 200-horsepower engine and shallow-running propeller mimics a carrier-launched F-18.

Worse, their prop-wash blasts sand, gravel and sediments from beneath and behind the ramp's cement landing. The cumulative scouring digs holes up to 10 feet deep at fragile landings, causing cement or blacktop to cave in.

Gate Changes

Today's lake levels are at 776.14 - and dropping. We closed the remaining 3 gates this AM.

All 6 slide gates are closed. Both wicket gates are closed.

No rain is forecast until Tuesday.

Lake Level at Summer Target

Today's lake level is 776.22 - our DNR mandated summer target level. 3 slide gates remain open - all other gates are fully closed.

Pretty low water near those piers, huh?

'Impervious' could become a new dirty word

From the Lakeland Times CLICK HERE

Nonconformity goes by the wayside in shoreland proposal

...Indeed, regulating all structures within 300 feet of the ordinary high water mark based on their amount of impervious surfaces rather than on a 50-percent rule for nonconforming structures (limiting repairs and reconstruction to 50 percent of the structure's current equalized value over its lifetime) represents the most sweeping change in the new proposal.

...How subjective will they be? Will they lead to even more inconsistent decisions on similar properties? Will the models be so stringent as to require exorbitantly expensive mitigation on existing nonconforming properties - a strategy that could doom nonconforming properties anyway, despite the new flexibility on repair and maintenance?

DNR sets public hearings

From the Vilas County News-Review HERE

Major revisions to the 40-year-old rules that govern waterfront development are headed to public hearings for the second time later this month, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced last week.


The draft changes to Chapter NR 115 of the Administrative Code are the result of five years of advisory committee meetings, eight listening sessions, 11 public hearings and comments from more than 50,000 people.

Meet the Rock River Safety Patrol

The Rock River Safety Patrol is a State of Wisconsin certified Law Enforcement agency that has been promoting water safety and enforcing DNR boating laws for over 40 years.


The RRSP’s area of responsibility is on the Rock River and Lake Koshkonong in Albion, Fulton, Koshkonong, Milton and Sumner Townships in Rock, Dane and Jefferson Counties.

In addition to its Law Enforcement function the RRSP is also involved with water rescues and recoveries. The RRSP also investigates boating accidents as well as other water related incidents.

About the Rock River Safety Patrol

Multi Jurisdictional Water Rescue Program

The RRSP is part of a Multi Jurisdictional Water Rescue Program along with Jefferson and Rock Counties, Edgerton, Fort Atkinson, Lake Mills and Milton Fire Departments. These agencies and departments have trained together, developed rescue procedures and have developed water rescue plans to aid in water rescues.

Their latest project was to develop a new Water Rescue Map to aid rescuers in locating and helping victims of water related accidents.

Other Lake/River Boat Patrols

The RRSP is not the only law enforcement agency on Lake Koshkonong and the Rock River. The DNR, Rock County and Jefferson Counties also provide Boat Patrol Services. In the past several years the amount of patrolling done by Rock and Jefferson Counties has been very limited. The DNR provides services to many other lakes and rivers so their patrol activity is also limited.

The Rock River Safety Patrol operates 2 boats on the Rock River and Lake Koshkonong mostly on weekends. There has been a demand for the RRSP to be patrolling on more days and evenings. Unfortunately the RRSP, like other government agencies, has fallen victim to tight budget constraints.

If you have questions or comments regarding the RRSP you can contact Captain Henry Sautin by e-mail at rrsp748@yahoo.com

In the event of any water related emergency dial 911.

RRSP Mission Statement

The Rock River Safety Patrols Mission

The mission of the RRSP is to promote boating safety by gaining compliance with the Boating Laws of the State of Wisconsin.

While sometimes issuing a citation is necessary it’s not the only tool the RRSP uses to gain compliance with the law. The RRSP does complementary boat inspections and answers the boater’s questions regarding boating equipment and safe boating operation. The most valuable tool of the RRSP is its mere presence. The presences of the patrol boat in itself helps remind boaters to obey the boating laws. The officers of the RRSP are also involved in teaching DNR Boating Safety Classes, another valuable tool in reducing injuries and fatalities on our waterways. The RRSP works closely with the DNR and our local DNR Wardens to promote water safety.

RRSP Captain Henry Sautin

Captain Sautin started as an officer with the RRSP in 1980 and was appointed Captain in 2003. He worked for the Rock County Sheriff’s Department and retired after 21 years of service as a Deputy Sheriff. He was the dive team leader for Rock County for over 11 years. In addition to the dive team he was involved in Rock Counties boat patrol and airboat operations. Some of his training included becoming a certified SCUBA Diving instructor, and Dive Rescue International water rescue specialist. In addition he attended many other boat and water related training programs.

Presently Henry is a member of the Multi Jurisdictional Cold Water Rescue program on the Rock River and Lake Koshkonong. Over the past 20 years he trained with and helped teach water rescue operations to such organizations as Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, Janesville, Fort, Milton, Edgerton, Lake Mills and Palmyria Fire Departments.

Between March of 2004 to March of 2005 Henry was in Iraq and part of his mission was helping to develop and organize a Boat Patrol and Dive Team on the Tigris River in Baghdad and providing training to the Iraqi Police.

Rock River Safety Patrol Officers

The RRSP’s staff is comprised of 8 State certified and trained Law Enforcement Officers. The Captain is Henry Sautin, Sergeant Tom Kunkel, Officers Art Phillips, James Check, Jeff Hottman, and Dave Wilson. Ryan Peterson and Shannon Techmeier. These officers have extensive and varied experience in Law Enforcement and Boat Patrol Operations.

Today's Lake Level

776.26 - and dropping.

We closed 3 of 6 slide gates this am.

Both wicket gates are also 100% closed.

DNR Public Hearings

From the DNR

July 24, 25, 26, 31 & August 2, 7 & 8
The Department of Natural Resources will hold public hearings pursuant to §§ 59.692, 227.11(2)(a) and 281.31, Stats., interpreting §§ 59.69, 59.692, 59.694 and 281.31, Stats., on revisions to ch. NR 115, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to minimum standards for county shoreland zoning ordinances.

Major provisions of the proposed rule include changes to vegetation management in the primary shoreland buffer and changes to regulation of nonconforming structures. New requirements include minimum lot size and density requirements for multi-unit residential development, mobile home parks and campgrounds; two formulas to calculate reduced shoreland setbacks; an impervious surface standard; and mitigation standards. The proposals include:

Land Division Review – NR 115.09
The requirement for land division review is changed from the creation of “3 or more lots” to the creation of “one or more lots” to ensure that all new lots created meet minimum lot size requirements. If new lots are created that are divided by a stream or river, one side of the lot shall have a compliant building location.

Lot Size and Development Density – NR 115.11
Minimum lot size and density standards have changed eliminating a distinction between sewered and unsewered areas. The new minimum lot size for all lots created after the effective date of the rule is 20,000 square feet and 100 feet of width at the building setback and ordinary high water mark. Counties may allow development on a substandard lot.

Counties are required to develop minimum area or lot size requirements for multi-family residential structures, mobile home parks and campgrounds.

Counties may request the approval of standards for alternative forms of development with reduced lot sizes for planned unit developments, cluster developments, conservation subdivisions and other similar alternative forms of development if they include larger shoreland buffers, larger lot sizes or larger setbacks on those lots adjacent to the water.

Shoreland Setback – NR 115.13
Language is added to address structures exempted by other state or federal laws from the shoreland setback standards.

Provisions are added to allow counties to exempt structures from the shoreland setback if they meet certain requirements outlined in § NR 115.13(4).

The construction of new dry boathouses is still exempted; however, a size limit of 250 square feet has been added to the rule.

Standards are established to qualify a lot for a reduced setback if there is not a compliant building location.

Height Requirements – NR 115.15
A new section on structure height was added to protect and preserve the natural scenic beauty of lake and riverine environments. Shoreland Vegetation and Buffers – NR 115.17

Language governing management of shoreland vegetation in the primary shoreland buffer is improved, resulting in a more functional buffer protecting habitat and water quality.

Tree and shrubbery pruning is allowed. Removal of trees and shrubs may be allowed if they are exotic or invasive species, diseased or damaged, or if an imminent safety hazard, but removed trees and shrubbery must be replaced.

Provisions are added to allow counties to exempt 7 types of activities from the shoreland vegetation provisions.

A formula for the width of access corridors is provided, replacing the “30 feet in any 100 feet” provision, which was confusing if a lot had less than 100 feet of frontage. A second formula for lots with greater than 200 feet of frontage was also added to address larger developments adjacent to the water.

Impervious Surfaces – NR 115.19
Development is regulated through the use of percentages of total impervious surface rather than through the use of a nonconforming structure provision. The impervious surface percentages of 10% for new principal structures or 15% for existing development may be exceeded up to a maximum of 20% total impervious surface within 300 feet of the ordinary high water mark if mitigation measures are implemented and maintained.
Provisions are also included for shared impervious surfaces, expansion, enclosing existing impervious surfaces, replacements and relocation.

Mitigation Provisions – NR 115.21
Provisions are now a performance measure to protect, preserve and enhance water quality and wildlife habitat while achieving natural scenic beauty.

There is a water quality standard and a wildlife standard that the counties will have to flesh out in their individual ordinances. The water quality standard will require infiltration of runoff.
A provision on proportionality has been added to ensure the mitigation measures required will not outweigh the impacts of the proposed project.

Land Disturbing Construction Activities – NR 115.23
A county permit is required for land disturbing construction activities in the shoreland zone to minimize erosion and sedimentation.

Counties shall exempt from the permit requirement activities that have already received permits from other identified permitting authorities.

The proposed rule revision is not expected to have significant adverse impacts. The department has made a preliminary decision that an Environmental Impact Statement will not be necessary for this action. The Department has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA). This environmental review document summarizes the department’s consideration of the impacts of the proposal and reasonable alternatives. The proposed rule, environmental analysis and fiscal estimate may be reviewed and comments electronically submitted either through the DNR Shoreland management Web pages or through the Wisconsin Administrative Rules Web site (exit DNR). Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted via U.S. mail to Toni Herkert, Bureau of Watershed Management, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Comments may be submitted until September 7, 2007. Written comments whether submitted electronically or by U.S. mail will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the public hearings.

More on DNR Hearings

For more information or a copy of the proposed rule and fiscal estimate contact Toni Herkert at (608) 266 0161.


The department will hold an open house from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. prior to each hearing.


Department staff will be available to answer questions regarding the proposed rules. The hearings will all begin at 5:45 p.m. on the following dates at the locations listed:


July 24, Wausau

Auditorium, Health & Science Bldg., North Central Tech College, 1000 W. Campus Dr.,


July 25, Rhinelander

Auditorium, Rhinelander High School, 665 Coolidge Ave.


July 26, Rice Lake

Blue Hills Masonic Center, 225 West South St.


July 31, Tomah

Community Room, Farmers & Merchants Bank, 1001 Superior Ave.


August 2, Green Bay

Neville Museum Theater, 210 Museum Place


August 7, Pewaukee

Waukesha County Technical College – Pewaukee Campus - Richard T. Anderson Education Center – 800 Main St.


August 8, Stoughton

Opera House, 381 E. Main St.

July 5, Lake Koshkonong, Wis.: Gen. Atkinson Orders Troops "To Be Firm"

Click HERE

Henry Atkinson: Orders
Head Qrs. Army of the Frontier Camp on Lake Cooshkeweink [Koshkonong]
5th July 1832
Order No. 48

The Comdg Genl. has been disappointed in not finding on his arrival at this place (day before yesterday) the enemy who had occupied a strong position in the immediate neighborhood for the last Six weeks & which it was understood he would not abandon without a struggle. He has however retreated precipitately in various directions with a view, it is thought, of concentrating at some more favourable point not far remote from us where he will make a stand on the defensive.

Hence it is necessary that the greatest vigilance should be observed; & the Comdg. Genl. therefore calls upon the officers & men composing his command to observe & enforce the strictest obedience of orders and discipline, & he admonishes every soldier against the smallest waste of the provisions issued to him as a contrary course will certainly subject him to suffering & want, detached as we all are at a distance from our depots.

It is not at all improbable but we shall come in conflict with the enemy in a day or two; on such an occasion it is only necessary for the troops to be firm, if they stand & more particularly if they advance upon the enemy success is inevitable

The several Corps & Brigades will be in readiness to move tomorrow morning

By order of Brig Genl. Atkinson (Signed) M. L. Clark A. D. Camp

________________________________

This order, lightly edited here, was intended to reinforce the sinking morale of the troops.

After a week of marching in search of Black Hawk through the swamps of southern Wisconsin, Atkinson's troops found themselves on the shores of Lake Koshkonong, where they found only the abandoned camp of their elusive adversary. They had thought that Black Hawk had camped on an island on the lake, which was actually a shallow mud pit, and that he would defend this spot to the end. However, the unpredictable Indians had in fact moved on, hoping to avoid a war by crossing the Mississippi and joining the rest of their nation in Iowa. Exhausted and demoralized, the American troops faced the prospect of a never-ending campaign through inhospitable swamps, in search of a faster and more stealthy enemy. To make matters worse, the army's supplies were running low, and in a few days they would be forced to abandon their campaign and return to a fort in order to eat.

Atkinson rightly feared that the militia volunteers would buckle under such circumstances and abandon the campaign. In this order he expresses the disappointment shared by the army and militia, but tries to rally their sense of discipline and preparedness. His assurance, however, that finding Black Hawk in a few days was "not at all improbable" could hardly have roused many soldiers' spirits. To no one's surprise, many militia would soon abandon the wearisome campaign.

July 4, Lake Koshkonong, Wis.: Gen. Atkinson Interrogates a Dying Sauk

Click HERE

On the 4th of July, some of our scouts had taken an old Sac Indian a prisoner, which in their flight, the rest of the Indians had run off and left. He was nearly starved to death, and literally blind. After feeding him, General Atkinson had him examined, telling him at the same time that if he caught him in a lie he would have him put to death.

The old fellow told all that he knew, which was not very much. He stated that Black Hawk had passed on up the river, on the east side, the same that they were then on. He stated that he was so old that they never thought it worth while to tell him anything about their movements; that in marching, he frequently did not get up to their camp till late in the night, and sometimes not until the next morning. So our prisoner was not of much benefit to us. He had few days to live, and to shorten his days we concluded the best plan would be to give him plenty to eat, and leave him to kill himself in that pleasant way...

But we learnt afterwards that he was denied this satisfaction, for some of General Posey's men came upon him and he soon became an easy prey to their deadly rifles [on July 6].

________________

This is an account of the capture and interrogation of an abandoned member of Black Hawk's band, on July 4 at Lake Koshkonong.

The army had been marching through the swamps of southern Wisconsin for a week to arrive at this lake, where they expected to find and fight Black Hawk's warriors. To their dismay, the Saulk and their allies had already escaped further north, on their way toward the site of modern Madison, Wisconsin.

This elderly man, abandoned and starving, was the only Indian they came across, and he gave them no credible information about Black Hawk's whereabouts. Although Atkinson intended to spare his life, members of the militia killed him two days later.

The encounter with the elderly Sauk man revealed the dire conditions of Black Hawk's followers. Living on the run for more than a month had left them exahusted and starving. In another version of this incident, the old Sauk man was reported to have said, "that their only food was roots, bark of trees, some little fish, with now and then a bird they killed." As always, the first to suffer from the shortages were the young and elderly. The condition of this man shows how desperate their situation was.

On this Date - Beloit Newspaper

July 5, 1957
(Friday)

Violent winds and heavy rains hit the area Thursday, and an Ohio fisherman has been feared drowned in Lake Koshkonong

Gate Changes

With the recent rainfall jumping lake levels from 776.10 to 776.37, all 6 slide gates have been reopened.

The 2 wicket gates in the powerhouse remain fully closed.

July 4, Lake Koshkonong, Wis.: Morale Sinks Even Lower

Click HERE

With a strong regular force and cannon, and the brigade under the immediate command of Gen. Henry [Dodge], Gen. Atkinson, and myself and staff commenced the march from Dixon up Rock River in pursuit of the enemy. This march was continued throughout the region of country on Rock River for sixty or eighty miles above Dixon for a long time without reaching the hostile Indians.

On the 4th of July the main army lay on the banks of Lake Koshkonong, which is an enlargement of Rock River, and experienced a melancholy and sadness of feeling indescribable. The provisions wasting away - almost gone - and the enemy not chastised. Two or three thousand fine soldiers under arms and nothing done, caused reflections in the breasts of the officers, and many privates, that were extremely mortifying and painful. But what could be done? We were almost hunting a shadow.
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This is an excerpt from the autobiography of John Reynolds, governor of Illinois and commander of the militia. On June 28, General Henry Atkinson led his troops troops searching for Black Hawk into southern Wisconsin. The militia, under Generals Dodge, Posey and Alexander, joined them on June 30.

Together they trekked through uninhabited swampland exposed to rain, mosquitoes, and intense summer heat and humidity. The Ho-Chunk chief White Crow guided them to Lake Koshkonong, where Black Hawk's forces had earlier camped, but by the time the troops arrived their enemies had long since departed. Disappointment and discomfort grew into the sorrow and doubt that Reynolds recalled here, as the army camped in the mud alongside Lake Koshkonong.

Black Hawk had chosen to rest at this miserable place because it provided a natural defense against the Americans, who could only move very slowly through the wetlands with their horses, supply trains and cannons. He also knew from experience the fickleness of the militia, who under tough conditions would probably give up and go home. His assumption was correct --- in less than a week many of the militia would desert the campaign, including even Governor Reynolds himself.

Happy Independence Day

Remember to Honor Our Soldiers today - both active duty and retired military.

And Safe Boating to All!

Lake Fireworks

From channel 3000.com

Lake Koshkonong Fireworks Spectacular, July 7. Northeast shore of Lake Koshkonong, approximately 9:20 p.m. Call 920-563-8518 to verify date and time.

Keeping boaters out of hot water

From the Janesville Gazette HERE

...Another boater had six adults and children in a boat rated for five passengers. The boater also was towing three children on a tube. The three on the tube were legal, but the boat had:

-- Adult-sized PFDs for some of the children.

-- A fire extinguisher with no charge in it.

-- Uncovered battery terminals

...The deputies stopped their first boat because someone was sitting up on a rear deck. It's illegal to sit on gunwales or certain other parts of the boat while it's under way.

Pyne also discovered the boat had no Coast Guard-approved PFD that could be thrown, and he issued a $148 citation for that.

July 1st - Summer water levels dropping

Lake level today is 776.14 - and dropping.