Palmyra dam said to be failing

By Associated Press

The Upper Spring Dam in Palmyra is failing, state emergency management officials said today.

Only one house in the rural area was in danger, said Palmyra Town Board Chairman Stewart Calkins.

The Department of Natural Resources was checking out other dams, said Mike Goetzman, a spokesman for Wisconsin Emergency Management. The DNR was flying over dams in Vernon County and sending engineers to other counties — including Columbia, Dodge, Sauk and Jefferson — to assess dams there, Goetzman said.

Gov. Jim Doyle had declared 30 counties in a state of emergency by noon Monday, and at least 130 inmates from the Department of Corrections were helping sandbag throughout the region.

Rain might return Tuesday, said Jessica Brooks, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in La Crosse. Heavier storms could come Thursday, leading to even more flooding, she said.

Roads throughout the state, including at least 32 state highways, were closed Monday, Goetzman said. A no-travel advisory was issued for Crawford, Richland and Vernon counties.