For Well Assistance 608-757-5441

Get Your Well Inspected FREE

United States Public Health Service HERE

Help Line # 888-905-1116 STILL ACTIVE

Now with the planning for the benefit at Fins behind us, we have already recruited contractors with skidsteers and trailers and dump trucks to begin the clean-up efforts around the lake and river.

Several dozen have called the help line looking for help or volunteering their equipment.

Please don't hesitate to call the help line!

RRKA Firewords This Saturday

The RRKA is spending money left unspent from their traditional post July 4th fireworks this Saturday night.

This is not an RKLD event.

Law enforcement will be patrolling this Labor Day weekend and providing safety patrols for the fireworks.

Enjoy.

3 slide gates closed

Lake Level = 776.1

Inflow last 4 consecutive days have decreased; 831 cfs, 760 cfs, 703 cfs, and 700 cfs

DNR orders permit RKLD to now close more gates.

Both wicket gates and 3 of 6 slide gates are now closed.

Lake Levels Holding Steady

Both wicket gates have been closed since Sunday (all slide gates remain 100% open); and lake levels have been between 776.27 and 776.21 - a variance of .75 of an inch.

DNR summer target is 776.20 - summer max is 776.33

Clearly, the management of the dam and compliance with DNR far exceeds that of the previous owners.

Brrr! Farmers' Almanac says cold winter ahead

Maine Today

..."Numb's the word," says the 192-year-old publication, which claims an accuracy rate of 80 to 85 percent for its forecasts that are prepared two years in advance.

...The almanac predicts above-normal snowfall for the Great Lakes and Midwest, especially during January and February,

...The almanac's winter forecast is at odds with that of the National Weather Service, whose trends-based outlook calls for warmer than normal temperatures over much of the country,

This year so far coolest for at least 5 years

Yahoo News

Shoreline R & R Benefit a Success

Special thanks to all who stopped at Fins and others who bought raffle tickets and made the day special!

Winners of the SeaDoo & Jon Boat

Special thanks to Rock River Marina for securing these 2 vessels for the Shoreline R & R Benefit!

Remembering Todd Simmons & John Gage

It is really a shame, we’ve lost a couple of good people who went out of their way to help strangers in a time of need.
Jim

John Gage Tribute

Jvl Gazette

John’s last video was shown at a fund-raiser for flood relief at Fins Bar and Grill in Newville on Saturday.

Howard said John called his parents at about 8:30 p.m. to say that he was getting rave reviews from those who saw it at Fins.

“The last thing he told us was, ‘I love you both,’” Howard said.
_____________________________________________

We will inform our lake district residents when John's video is available for purchase. Everyone, all 4,000+ property owners, will want this DVD for their family's future generations.

Janesville man leaves flood documentary as legacy

More on John Gage HERE



John interviews Ross Knox for flood documentary at the August 17th fundraiser at Fins Bar and Grill.

_____________________________________________________

FROM WCLO -

The Rock River flood documentary created by 41-year-old John Gage of Videogenics was 98 percent complete when he was killed this weekend in a rollover crash near Beloit.

His father says that earlier Saturday Gage screened the documentary at a fundraiser in Newville. The documentary will be ready by its release date next week.

All proceeds from the DVDs will go to United Way chapters in Rock and Jefferson counties as originally intended.

Flood Rebuilding Fundraiser Held In Rock County

From Channel3000

"Shoreline Recovery And Restoration" Hopes To Rebuild Area"

NEWVILLE, Wis. -- Down along the Rock River and Lake Koshkonong, the summer is usually one long party. That party was derailed this year due to the June floods.

But a fundraising event held Saturday afternoon to help those impacted by those floods could go a long way to help get the party started again.

To help those still trying to recover, area businesses held a "Shoreline Recovery and Restoration" fundraiser at Fins Bar & Grill in Newville on Saturday.

"People come here because of the lake, the people, and the atmosphere, and we just wanted to bring all that back together," said Susan Hagan of Fins Bar & Grill. "There are a lot of people that live on the lake that can't afford to have the sandbags removed, or pay for the dumpster. We have a lot of elderly people who can't physically take up an 80-pound sandbag."

More than sixty volunteers came out of help, doing everything from manning the grill to selling tickets.

"We got a lot of food up here, we got all kinds of food and drink and entertainment the whole night," said Chico Pope, owner of Buckhorn Supper Club. "People just need to come out here, open their wallets, and be our partner in trying to rebuild the area."

The Recovery and Restoration fund has a lofty goal, but they're not disclosing how much money they're attempting to raise.

But numbers aside, Saturday was all about bringing back summer, and celebrating the sense of community that was necessary during the floods and is equally necessary now during the rebuilding process.

Volunteer and flood victim Beth Bucaida summed up the spirit of the event: "I never could have imagined that this could have happened when I purchased my cottage two years ago. It's just really gratifying to see all of the people that were out helping doing the sandbagging when the flood was coming. People really rallied."

For Rock County businesses and homes along the water, the rallying must continue.

Lake Leota; Once it's gone....

WI State Journal

Evansville faces costly dilemma with Lake Leota

..."I hope it's possible to make the lake full again," she said. "This town needs it."

...From a city business viewpoint, the lake should be restored, she said.

"Businesses want to make Evansville a destination. The park has been a destination in the past."

Longer-sighted plans include developing the Highway 14 corridor that skirts the lake and the popular park.
_______________________________________
Past Posts --
HERE
and
HERE
and
HERE
and
HERE

Chico and Dawn on TV; View Video

From NBC15 - Madison HERE

Relationship on the Mend

The road to flood recovery is a long and tough one for those only dealing with their own problems.

For some that's not enough. One family is putting the community and waters they love as priority number one.

For Chico Pope it's been rocky relationship. The same waters he loves that keep his business thriving, also able to take so much away so quickly.

He says, "It's awful. It's devastating. People lost their houses. Their families are falling apart. It's a huge disaster."

Pope and his wife suffered damage to all three of their lakefront properties.

Dawn Pope says, "One is completely gutted now, just down to the studs and we don't know when we are going to be able to get going on that."

But in the midst of the cleanup the Popes are looking forward, putting their problems on the back burner and raising money that will help everyone.

Chico says, "It's a challenge. It's exhausting to be honest with you."

Practically before the last sandbag was placed and with help from their neighbors the Pope's began dreaming up this fundraiser. Raising money to turn these banks back into the beautiful shoreline they remember.

There are hundreds of spots across the area where things like garbage cans have washed on to shore and even pieces of metal re bar. With all this stuff littering the area money raised will go to clean it up.

Chico says, "It's important to all of us that we rebuild it, we get it back open again, get it alive again."

Cleaning up a shoreline and with it raising the spirits of an entire area who need this water as much as they do each other.

Dawn says, "Things are coming back but it's been a while"

A relationship on the mend, that they're determined to see through.

Money raised will be used to hire contractors that will circle the Rock River and Lake Koshkonong and remove debris.

Lake Level = 776.24; GATE CHANGES

We are half an inch above the DNR Summer target level of 776.20

This AM, we will close both wicket gates - first time gates have been closed in 13 months.

See gate logs here

FEMA and Septic Assistance

http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=45431

DNR: Good season for duck hunters

Jvl Gazette

...Department of Natural Resources migratory game bird ecologist Kent Van Horn says there was some concern about waterfowl populations because of the flooding, but they turned out healthy and abundant.
______________________________________________________________
Even the ducks support the RKLD against the DNR's artificial low water levels.

The bonds we have with our boats

Jvl Gazette



A submarine on Lake Koshkonong would be a snorkel and swim fins...

One month left to apply for FEMA aid

WCLO

Janesville flood center closes

Jvl Gazette

Janesville Catholic churches trying to fill flood relief gap

Jvl Gazette

Today at Fins Bar and Grill

County pursuing flood grants

Janesville Gazette

...“Substantial damage” means repairs would cost more than 50 percent of the house’s assessed value.

To get the grant, the county must commit to matching 12.5 percent of the cost of acquisition and demolition. The state would commit another 12.5 percent, and the remaining 75 percent would be the federal money.

That’s where the second grant comes in. The county will apply to the state for the Community Development Block Grant to cover the county’s 12.5 percent share.

...The county has asked the five towns to cover the 12.5 percent local match required to buy and raze vacation homes. So far, the towns of Milton, Fulton and Janesville have said, “No.”

The town of Rock agreed to the plan. The town of Beloit will vote Monday.

Tomorrow at Fins in Newville

Lake Level = 776.41

We need to drop another 2.6 inches to reach the DNR summer target order.

Fishing Blog re: Koshkonong

Fishing Blog I

Fishing Blog II

Defending the Lake...

Whoever called this one in to Sound-Off, thank you!



Previous Post HERE

Lake Leota Update

No lake fireworks this time

Janesville Gazette

I was all excited for some possible fireworks on the Lake Leota dredging project at Tuesday's council meeting.

But alas, there were none.

It's shaping up for a discussion and vote at the Tuesday, Sept. 9 council meeting though. Mayor Sandy Decker said that's when the council will decide if the dredging will be put to referendum or not.

Confusion and public opinion has been centered around several numbers floating around for the cost of the project.

Here's what we know now:

--Part of that confusion was corrected Tuesday night when park board chair and alderwoman Janis Ringhand said the park board mistakenly used $1.4 million instead of $1.7 million when making its recommendations last month.

--The park board recommended the council move forward with the dredging without a referendum at a cost of $1.7 million, depending upon the city’s ability to dump dirt on neighboring property owners’ land. The board first recommended the council hold a binding referendum, if possible, but state statutes do not allow that.

--Ringhand also has requested to the finance committee that the $2.5 million that was allocated in the capital budget about five years ago for dredging in 2009 remain.

While the $2.5 million may be more than is needed for the project, Ringhand said it’s better to over allocate than not have enough.

--In February, Vierbicher Associates presented a plan to dredge the lake for $1.7 million to $2.6 million, with the range depending on how far the about 200,000 cubic yards of lakebed material would have to be transported.

-- A lake dredging referendum only would be advisory, meant to gauge the public’s opinion, City Administrator Dan Wietecha wrote in a council member. Binding referendums are allowed for “a very short list of legislative acts, such as a charter ordinance or a town incorporating as a city,” he wrote.

-- To be placed on the Nov. 4 ballot, the specific language needs to be sent to Rock County by Sept. 23.

--The public works committee will talk about the issue and possibly make a recommendation at its 6 p.m. meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 26.

Do You Remember LAST August?

AUGUST 2007
__________________________

Dog days? Not this August

WI State Journal

...Recall last August in Madison?

On Aug. 18 it rained 3.39 inches, breaking a record for the date. The next day set another record with 2.13 inches of rain. Three days later it rained 3.2 inches, breaking a third record.

By then, "flooding" was an understatement.

For the month, Madison received 15.18 inches of rain, by far the most recorded in any month in city history.
____________________________________________________

FOOTNOTE - June 2008 broke the all-time rain record of August 2007

Come to Koshkonong!

Milw Journal Sentinel

Tourism touch and go for resorts

...One benefit of this summer's high gas prices is that some state residents and Chicago-area residents are choosing to vacation within a relatively short drive of home.

Jefferson County Buoys

Dear Brian,
Just wanted to emphasize the warning and also to urge the powers-that-be to quickly get out and replace the buoys marking the rock pile noted by a previous post from RRSP's Ryan Peterson (His quote from Saturday 8/9/2008 states "The channel markers and the buoy marking the rock pile are missing. Adding to the problem is the water has become home to many rocks and logs. We have the side scanning sonar and could see many of these on the bottom. I also noticed the depth of the water quickly changes from 4' to 2' without warning. This area was known for the rock piles, sholes, submerged grasses, and junk. It now appears to be much worse.")

My family and I came up on this rock pile and did some pretty significant damage to our jet-boat. Luckily we don't have an external prop so there was no damage done to anything in that regard but we have some pretty deep scratches to our gelcoat and even three spots where the gelcoat was broken through to the underlying fiberglass. Other damage was done to the opening grate to the impellar but the motor seems to run OK and we made it back to the boat launch.

The points I wish to make is:
1. I want to urge whoever puts buoys out on the lake to get this done as soon as possible; minimally putting some temporary marker that denotes danger in certain areas. One of us could have been killed hitting this rockpile yesterday.
2. I want to urge boaters to be very careful out on Lake Koshkonong because of possible missing buoys that mark dangerous obstacles and because there may be various debris just under the surface in certain areas.

Sincerely,
Mark & Geri Rissman

County eyes cash to rebuild in townships

From Janesville Gazette

...Unofficially, it looks like 66 houses—outside of the cities of Janesville and Beloit—are so damaged they might need to be razed and could not be rebuilt because they are located in the floodway, the portion of the floodplain that holds moving water during a flood, Heinig said.

Another 14 houses might have to come down but could be rebuilt because they are in the floodfringe, the portion of the floodplain that holds standing water during a flood, Heinig said.

The estimated 80 houses are a mix of primary and secondary residences.

Flood recovery benefit

From WCLO

WCLO's Stan Stricker reports on upcoming flood relief fund raiser
Lake Koshkonong area businesses are working together on flood recovery efforts.

Buckhorn Supper Club co-owner Dawn Pope tells WCLO's Stan Milam show funds are being raised to restore the area. Pope says recovery efforts aren't confined to Newville or Lake Koshkonong. She says they're trying to help clean up debris from Indianford to Blackhawk Island. Pope knows first hand the cost of the flood to homes and businesses. Her business was closed for three weeks because of more than two feet of standing water in the road.

A benefit is planned this Saturday at Fins Bar and Grill in Newville.
___________________________________

Listen to Stan Milam Show HERE

Rock County Businesses Scramble To Salvage Season

From Channel3000

NEWVILLE, Wis. -- The town of Newville experienced some of the worst flooding in Rock County earlier this summer.

Now that boating restrictions have finally been lifted along the Rock River and Lake Koshkonong, businesses like the Anchor Inn that depend on summer tourism are finally getting back to normal.

John Kinnett, owner of Newville's Anchor Inn, said about the flooding that shut down his business, "We had thought that our whole summer was wrecked. Luckily, when the water started to drop, it really dropped. It receded quickly."

Dozens of volunteers who helped restore the restaurant to pre-flood conditions sped up the Anchor Inn's re-opening, though Kinnett admits that business has been slow.

Saturday, the Anchor Inn held a pig roast with live music to attract customers. Said Kinnett, "We're just trying to make it so people will come out, and have a reason to come out."

Some attending the event said the flooding took away most of their summer and now is the time to enjoy what little there is left: "It feels like summer again," said Charlie Pritscher of Edgerton. "August first was like June first. Kids will be back in school soon, so we'll do what we can for a little bit of summer, and have fun."

Summer came late this year to Newville, but for area businesses, the hope is that things will improve for the remainder of this year and certainly next. Said Kinnett, "We rely on a lot of the tourism. It's nice to know that it's going to come back. It gives you hope for next year, to know that people are going to stick around the area and enjoy it."

Two months ago, hope was sparse in Newville. But now it seems everyone agrees that promising times are ahead

Lake district reduces special assessment fee

The Daily Jefferson County Union HERE

Property owners in the Rock-Koshkonong Lake District voted in favor of a special assessment reduction when they met for the district’s annual meeting Saturday morning.

Flooding and an ongoing legal dispute with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources over water level regulations were other items that topped the agenda for the gathering, held at Fort Atkinson High School.

Members approved a reduction of $4, from $45 to $41 per parcel, for the 2009 special assessment. The original proposal was to lower the assessment to $40, but attendees OK’d a resolution to have $1 from each property owner go toward reimbursing volunteers for some of their expenses incurred during flood cleanup efforts.

There are approximately 8,000 total residents with more than 4,000 parcels within the district, meaning that approximately $4,000 will go toward the flood cleanup.

Also approved with the budget was a resolution to establish a lake restoration fund, which will set aside money in a segregated account to pursue dredging, island creation and breakwalls as a means to limit shoreline erosion, promote navigation and enhance wildlife and fish habitat.

“By state law, we’re not allowed to build up a slush fund,” district Chairperson Brian Christianson said. “We have to have a budget for that unless we have another segregated account. This is similar to the segregated fund we have for the Indianford Dam.”

Christianson said the fund will allow the board to incrementally build up savings for pursuing the dredging and island project, although he predicted it might be 10 years or so before the lake district has the necessary funds. (The full story appears in the Aug. 4 Daily Union).

Lake Koshkonong Divided Over Raising Lake Level

From Channel3000

NEWVILLE, Wis. -- While the lake level debate might just be starting up on Lake Mendota, it's been an ongoing issue for years on Lake Koshkonong.

VIDEO: Watch The Report

"It's been going on since I've been with the department, going on 29 years," said DNR Public Affairs manager Greg Matthews. "I dare say it will probably be going on 30 years from now."

More than 20 years ago, a group of property owners on Lake Koshkonong asked the DNR to raise the lake approximately 18 inches.

The DNR denied the request.

Lake Koshkonong didn't initially start out as a lake, but rather a marsh.

When the Indianford dam was built in the mid-1800s, the Koshkonong Marsh became Lake Koshkonong.

Even now, the lake is only 7 feet at its deepest point.

In more recent years, the Rock-Koshkonong Lake District was formed. The RKLD represents thousands of homeowners and businesses on the lake and Rock River.

The group has repeatedly asked the DNR to raise the lake level by 7 inches.

RKLD members said that while this year the water is unusually high, typically by this time of summer, they have to extend their piers far into the lake in order to dock their boat on their property.

"During a typical June, July and August, when most of the seasonal campers are here and most folks are trying to get use out of their boats and water skis, and we can control the low water, we shouldn't let it drop to a point where boating navigation becomes a dangerous safety issue," said RKLD chairman Brian Christianson.

The flip side of the issue are the environmental and hunting groups who oppose raising the lake.

Members of the Lake Koshkonong Wetland Association said the area was meant to be a marsh and adding more water is only hurting, not helping the natural habitat.

"Raising the water 7 inches would saturate a lot of the wetlands we have today and make the regeneration process very difficult and would start to diminish that," said wetlands association chairman Rick Persson.

Christianson maintains that the RKLD is also concerned about the wetlands habitat and has been offering grants to build rip rap barriers to protect the marsh areas. He said 12 protective walls have been built to date.

Still, the latest round of litigation found in favor of the Koshkonong Wetlands Association. RKLD officials plan to appeal that decision to the state appellate court.

"These things -- whether it's raising it, keeping it the same or lowering it -- are always contentious," said Matthews.

DNR Continues to Pick Winners and Losers

So, DNR, if it is good for property values, the economy, pleasure boats and fishing for Lake Delton to be restored, why not simply grant Lake Koshkonong 7.2 inches so we can accomplish the same objectives here?
_________________________

Fishing: What lies ahead for Lake Delton?

From WI State Journal

...The Department of Natural Resources is working on a plan that would not only restock Lake Delton, but improve the fish habitat.

Devised by Tim Larson, the lake's fish biologist and fish supervisor for the Lower Wisconsin River Basin, the plan could involve adding rock reefs in deeper water, rock close to some of the shoreline...

...The lake, created in 1927, emptied June 9 when flood waters breached the northern shore of the lake, emptying the lake, along with the walleye, largemouth bass and other fish species into the Wisconsin River, but exposing numerous stumps on the lake's east side that provide habitat for bait fish and game fish.

The lake could be refilled by December after improvements are made to the dam, scheduled for completion in September...

...Six- to 12-inch rocks would be used along selected wind-swept shorelines out to 10 feet from shore to encourage natural walleye spawning. Some natural walleye reproduction has been documented in Lake Delton but stocking has been needed to sustain the fishery, Larson said.

In normal years, the lake is a magnet for pleasure boaters, waterskiers and parasailing and is home to the Tommy Bartlett Show. When the lake emptied, it left boats high and dry, Bartlett's ski jumps buried in the mud and many resorts that rim the lake without guests.

...Stecky estimates his revenue will be down by 75 percent this year because of the loss of water, and doesn't expect his business to be back to 100 percent for three to five years, which is about the time it will take the small walleyes the DNR plans to stock next year to reach the legal harvest size of 15 inches

Owners of flooded properties must make decisions

From Janesville Gazette

...The federal government will pay 75 percent of the cost, with the state and city chipping in 12.5 percent each. The city can use in-kind matches to come up with that money, such as doing the demolition or paying landfill fees, Lee said.

If residents choose not to sell, they would be required to raise their homes 2 feet above flood plain level.

That might not be financially feasible for some.

HELP LINE # 888-905-1116

Brian:

My 88-year-old parents own a cottage on Lake Koshkonong (Vinnie Ha Ha Rd). Their lakeshore definitely needs to be cleaned-up from the water damage. Does your organization or do you have a list of local businesses that are available to do this for hire?

We would really appreciate any suggestions you might have.

thank you

Mary

______________________________

Call the toll free # above - contractors will be out after the August 16th fundraiser at Fins Bar and Grill in Newville. There will be no cost for the service.

August 16 benefit to raise money for flood victims

From the Edgerton Reporter
Holly Garey Special to the Reporter

The Shoreline Recovery and Restoration Benefit will take place on August 16 at Fins Bar and Grill in Newville. Proceeds from the event will go to the Shoreline Recovery and Restoration Fund, a component of the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin. The benefit starts at 10 a.m. and lasts until close.


The Shoreline Recovery and Restoration Committee, a non-profit organization, has been meeting Tuesdays and Thursdays for the last month to discuss all the events and activities that will happen the day of the event. The group is made up of local businesses including the Buckhorn Supper Club, Carl’s Shell, Norm’s Hideaway, Fins Bar and Grill, Sherman Sanitation, Rock River Marina and the Edgerton Reporter.


The businesses have come together to organize the event to aid in shoreline recovery efforts. Fins Bar and Grill has donated their business as a location for the event, while other businesses will provide prizes, auction items and refreshments.


While the coalition is only set up to raise money for the event, Sue Conley, executive director of the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin (CFSW), met the group to create a “Special Project Fund” for the group. The Special Project Fund is set up by the Shoreline Recovery and Restoration Committee through the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin because the committee has a specific purpose with a specific time period, but is not large enough to become its own charity. With Jane Duesterback as the group’s CFSW representative, the money raised will go back to the people who were affected in the Lake Koshkonong/Rock River area, from Fort Atkinson to Blackhawk Island.


The benefit will include many events throughout the day, like door prizes, a silent auction, 50-50 raffle, music, and a boat and Sea-Doo raffle. Refreshments will be provided. Raffle tickets for a Lowe 1648 boat with a 15H Mercury Motor and a new Karavan trailer or a GTI Sea-Doo, both provided by Rock River Marina, are one for $10 or three for $25. Raffle tickets can be purchased at a variety of business, including Fins Bar and Grill, Buckhorn Supper Club, Norm’s Hideaway, Rock River Marina, Snuffy’s Still, Wisconsin Wine and Cheese, and Carl’s Shell. The drawing for the grand prizes is at 8 p.m. and you need not be present to win.


The Shoreline Recovery and Restoration Committee is looking for volunteers for the day of the event to help step up for the event, to help sell raffle tickets, among other activities through out the day. Members of the committee said that the purpose of the benefit is to help raise money to help restore what has been damaged in the area and if there is enough funds left over, to revamp the area. All proceeds will go to the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, which will help distribute the money to the Lake Koshkonong area.


“Pat and I have been extremely touched by the number of people who have come forward to help and that have invested a considerable amount of time to come to the meetings and put all their efforts in to the event,” Sue Hogan, co-owner of Fins Bar and Grill, said.


People affected by the floods are doing their parts in helping the event succeed. Hogan said that two individuals, who live on the north side of the lake, came in to Fins and told Hogan about how their properties have been damaged.


“They came to thank us for putting on the benefit, and then they bought raffle tickets,” Hogan said.


Money will be used to hire contractors to circle the lake and river with equipment capable of removing debris. The money raised will not be used to reimburse residents for labor already completed prior to the event.


Cash and check donations are accepted and can either be made out to the Shoreline Recovery and Restoration Fund or to the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin and can be mailed to Shoreline Recovery and Restoration Fund, PO Box 8152, Janesville, WI 53547.


If a check is made for a donation or for the boat and Sea-Doo raffle, make sure to write under the memo ‘raffle tickets’ or ‘Shoreline R&R Fund.’

Aug 16h Benefit Details

IF YOU GO

What: A benefit to raise money for the shoreline recovery and restoration fund.

When: 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16.

Where: Fins Bar & Grill on the Rock River in Newville.

Details: The event will include raffles, door prizes, silent auction, live music all day and food and drink specials.

Area businesses set up a committee and a fund to help with cleanup efforts from Indianford to Fort Atkinson on the Rock River, as well as property on Lake Koshkonong. Assistance including removal and disposal of sandbags and building materials will be provided to neighborhoods within the Rock-Koshkonong Lake District.

A committee of volunteers will allocate funds to contractors, landfills and waste companies who conduct cleanup efforts and collect waste material. No proceeds will be allocated directly to individual homeowners.

The fund is a component of Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin.

The shoreline recovery and restoration fund help line is 1-888-905-1116.

776.74

Gates changes will occur this upcoming week - first time in over 1 year.

Awaiting the tourists

From the Janesville Gazette

NEWVILLE — Pontoon boats cruised under the Highway 59 bridge over the Rock River in Newville on Sunday afternoon as live music greeted the boaters and the smell of grilled food wafted in the air.

While it's a typical summer sight for the tourism area, it's been atypical the last two months as floodwaters put a kibosh on visitors and business.

Bar and restaurant owners who depend on those tourism dollars say visitors are starting to return, but there's no way to make up for the sales loss.

"It'll be a tough winter. We do much better in summer, and that helps us get through winter,” said John Kinnett, owner of Anchor Inn, a bar, restaurant and boat rental on the river. "It's going to be a long winter. Hopefully next year Mother Nature cooperates.”

The rising Rock forced Kinnett to close his business for a month, then left him to repaint his building, lay new sod and fix several piers before opening July 11.

The Buckhorn Supper Club on Lake Koshkonong sat high and dry, but was forced to close for three weeks because the road to it was flooded, owner Chico Pope said.

But this weekend seemed to be a turning point for tourism-dependent businesses, many owners said, as they saw more boats return to the lake.

"This weekend seemed to be our best weekend so far, so that's a good sign,” Pope said. "Up through last weekend we were still down 30 to 35 percent each weekend we were open.”

Businesses won't see the rate of tourism like last year for another year, said Sue Hagan, who owns Fins Bar & Grill with her husband, Pat.

"The big attraction here was being on the lake, and they couldn't get on the lake,” she said.

When word spread of flooding in the Lake Koshkonong area, businesses not on the lake took a hit, too.

Steve Cline, majority owner of Jellystone Park of Fort Atkinson, said his campground reservations are down about 25 percent from a normal summer. He's still getting calls asking if the area is flooded.

"In actuality, the majority of us never were flooded … I think the news blew it up to the point where people thought it was a lot worse,” he said.

Cline and other owners point out, though, that high gas prices and tightening of pocketbooks also have contributed to the fall in their tourism business.

With piers and cottages needing repairs and only four weeks until Labor Day, Pope predicts traffic probably still won't pick up to a normal August pace.

"I think you're going to see lighter traffic this whole rest of summer,” he said.

While owners said local patrons have provided great support, it's that extra tourism push they need.

"We'll survive the summer just fine,” Pope said. "I'm afraid for most of these businesses to get through the winter.”

That's why many are adding events to draw more people to the lake area.

Fins is planning a shoreline recovery and restoration fund-raiser on Saturday, Aug. 16, to benefit the lake residents.

"We just really wanted to be part of the solution and try to get people back on their feet,” Hagan said.

That should draw people to the area, said Kinnett, who's seen his sales at Anchor Inn drop about 50 percent since he reopened. Now he's planning things such as a pig roast and a free corn boil for this weekend with other events he normally wouldn't have in coming weekends: a Mardi Gras party, hosting the Pink Houses band and having midget wrestling.

"We said, 'instead of just sitting back, let's do some promotional stuff and have some fun—give them a reason to come out,'” he said.

Safety Message from the RRSP

Brian,

I just wanted to let you know that while patrolling this weekend, I noticed the northwest side of Lake K is an area boaters should be extremely cautious when nearing the shoreline or Rock River.

The channel markers and the buoy marking the rock pile are missing. Adding to the problem is the water has become home to many rocks and logs. We have the side scanning sonar and could see many of these on the bottom. I also noticed the depth of the water quickly changes from 4' to 2' without warning. This area was known for the rock piles, sholes, submerged grasses, and junk. It now appears to be much worse.

The shore line in the N. Vinnie Haha area looks to have the worst damage from what I could see. It appears that a 3-5' deep x 15-30' width (depending on what you would consider normal waters edge prior to floods) wedge of land was removed from the shore line.

In it's place, the water left debris in the same way a tornado would leave behind.

It also exposed a number of concrete septic boxes that were below ground prior to the floods. There is one section that has the concrete coffin-like boxes right up the shore, house after house. The water was so strong that it looks like the lids were torn off and in some cases destroyed the d-box altogether.

It is an area that always contends with heavy wave action, but seems to have the least shore protection. What little was on the shore appears to be strewn about on shore or missing altogether.

It will be wise for boaters nearing land to assume the missing rock that acted as rip-rap material prior to the flood is now pulled out into the water along with the land it once sat on.

Ryan Peterson, Officer on the RRSP

Website is experiencing tech problems

Still working on it

Perfect Water Level

Lake Level today is 776.97 - nearly the exact lake level the RKLD is requesting the DNR to adjust their operating orders to....

And Milton and Fulton STILL retain their slow no-wake orders.

Not sure which level of government is more out of touch with 4,000 parcel owners, the town chairmen or the DNR.

Slow, no wake lifted in Milton Township

The Rock County Sheriff's Office lifted the slow, no wake zone on portions of the Rock River that flows through Milton Township this afternoon, heeding a request from the town board chair.

The river has had the slow, no wake zone in place since the record June flooding began June 13.

The lifting goes into effect immediately.

The slow, no wake zone on the portions of the Rock River that flows through Janesville will be lifted at 5 p.m. today.

SLOW, NO WAKE IN TOWN OF FULTON REMOVED

NEWS RELEASE
SLOW, NO WAKE IN TOWN OF FULTON REMOVED
For Immediate Release Contact Person
August 7, 2008 Commander Troy Knudson
(608) 757-7968

The Town of Fulton has requested that the Rock County Sheriff's Office remove the Slow, No Wake Zone for the portion of Rock River that flows through their town effective Friday, August 8, 2008. This request was made by the Fulton Town Chair.

Robert D Spoden
Sheriff
By: Commander Troy Knudson
Law Enforcement Services

SNW Lifted Town of Janesville

Slow, no wake to be lifted on Rock River

The Rock County Sheriff's Office announced today the slow, no wake zone for the portion of the Rock River that flows through the city and town of Janesville will be lifted effective at 5 p.m. Friday.

SLOW NO WAKE REMAINS IN EFFECT II

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SLOW-NO-WAKE will be lifted tomorrow, Friday, August 8th. We expect Saturday to be busy on the water and will be patrolling accordingly. We hope it is a safe weekend. I recommend readers do a once-over before taking to the waters this weekend. They should check to see that the registration paperwork is in order, safety equipment on board and in good condition, and review the boaters pamphlet the DNR publishes each year for a refresher in Wisconsin boating laws.
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Rock River Safety Patrol

The River is STILL SLOW NO WAKE

For absolutely no reason whatsoever, Town of Fulton has the river from Newville to Indianford still posted as SLOW NO-WAKE....

Do not call the Lake District regarding this issue.

Direct all calls to the Fulton Town Chairman, Evan Sayre, at 608-774-4575

The town hall is closed on Fridays.

And Rock County Sheriff's Boat Patrol has been patroling this week.

DNR still lagging in inspecting Wisconsin dams

Milw Journal Sentinel

...Dams are rated as being high hazard, significant hazard or low hazard. The rating does not measure the condition of the dam but indicates the potential damage a failure could cause. High-hazard dams could cause loss of life, and significant-hazard dams could cause environmental or property damage. Low-hazard dams have little potential for causing any type of damage.
___________________________________________________________

Indianford and Jefferson are considered low hazard dams.

Madison Can Learn from Koshkonong

...A request to raise the level of Lake Koshkonong in the 1980s is still being hashed out in court because of opposing sides, WISC-TV reported.
__________________________________________

This is a misleading statement by Madison's WISC TV-3.

The court case from the 1980s was settled in 1991. The RRKA had requested the DNR raise the lake level by more than 2x what the current RKLD petition requests (7.2 inches). They made this request with no consideration or research into the impacts on the OHWM - possibly causing a "takings" issues of private property.

During the roughly 10 years that the dispute/request sat on DNR's desks, no research was conducted by any party.

The DNR water level order was eventually changed, arbitrarily, with no scientific reasoning behind why the new order was established at today's order of 776.20 mls.

It was also during this compromise rooted in zero site-specific science, that the official lake level gauge was moved from the Indiandford Dam to its current location at Binghams on the lake.

The change in lake/river bed elevation alone cost us roughly 3 inches in water depth.

So, I take exception to the portrayal by TV-3 that it is "still being hashed out." Our current case is based on hundreds of hours, hundreds of thousands of dollars in site-specific research, including a joint RKLD-DNR OHWM analysis, that confirmed our water level request for 7.2 inches of water would not encroach on the OHWM, and cause a "takings" issue.

And we have sponsored wetland protection grants to armor privately-owned wetlands, that research indicates have protected the wetlands - in most cases - against flood stage damage.

Research photos presented again at the annual meeting Saturday illustrated how the armor has enabled the wetlands to regenerate new growth.

It won't be long and Madison-area homeowners will look to RKLD-funded science to defend themselves against the DNR's goal of turning their lakes back to a pre-settlement era.

And for that, all RKLD electors should feel good about their role in improving the ecosystem.

High Water Levels Destroying Protected Wetlands

Madison-area shoreline property owners are about to start a process with the DNR that the RKLD has already begun.

Our lake systems are too different to draw parallel lines, other than to say, yes, dams have and do change the ecosystem. And yes, home construction, road construction and municipal waste treatment facilities change the ecosystem.

But it is simply not an option to remove dams that have existed for 150+ years, where urban development has established itself; no one will agree to remove the Beltline, or other roads, no one will agree to remove their plumbing and return to pumps and outhouses - all in an effort to return to a pre-settlement era.

The wetlands are valuable - and they need to be armored.

In a few weeks, we will continue our research of Lake Koshkonong's wetlands and display the effects that the RKLD grants have had in rip-rapping those privately-owned wetlands.

_____________________________________________

From Channel3000 - Madison

..."They're only floating because the dam or series of dams at Tenney Park back the water up into the Yahara River."

...Hefty said at least 7 feet of marsh shoreline disappears every year. He said a least a full square mile of it has gone since the first dam was put on Lake Mendota in the mid-1800s.

...Some experts would like to see the lake level lowered on Lake Mendota, which in turn would lower the level in Cherokee Marsh, WISC-TV reported.

"Anything we can do to lower the summertime levels will enhance the growth of the plants," said Hefty. "And it will also reduce the loss when we have flood events because if you start at a lower elevation you have more storage so it won't rise up as high."

...A request to raise the level of Lake Koshkonong in the 1980s is still being hashed out in court because of opposing sides, WISC-TV reported.

Paperwork needed to issue disaster loans

Jvl Gazette

...If residents don't return their SBA loan applications, they automatically drop themselves out of the running for federal relief funds.

Residents have some time left, though, if they haven't returned their applications to the SBA. Because the floodwaters were so slow to recede, FEMA extended by one month the disaster loan application deadline for home and business damage loans.

Residents requesting federal assistance for physical damage now need to have their applications returned by Monday, Sept. 15. Those seeking aid for economic injury have until March 13, 2009, the same deadline as originally set.

Does Anyone have a Sunset Update?

Brian,
Great job with the blog, don’t let negative comments effect you. Keep up the good work.

I have a house in Newville, I haven’t made it over by Sunset Bar & Grill lately. Do you know their situation? Any word on the boat races?

Thanks,
Mike Mininni

Koshkonong Water Quality

We finally found a website! Keep in mind blue-green algae can blossom and disappear at any time, and it is toxic.

WIBeaches.US

Lakeview Campground Beach --
1901 E. State Rd. 59
Center of beach Rock
07/31/2008 10:15
- 9 PER 100 ML

Lakeland Campground Beach --
2803 E. State Rd. 59
Center of beach Rock
07/31/2008 09:45
- 1 PER 100 ML
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What do the monitoring values mean?

USEPA has established an advisory level of 235 cfu/100 for E. coli.

Please be advised that E. coli values greater than 235 poses an increased risk of swimmer-related illness.

SLOW NO WAKE REMAINS IN EFFECT

Lake Level = 777.53

Water levels have dropped 6.84 inches this past weekend.

Many have commented that this water level is "perfect." However, we must drop another 16 inches to comply with the DNR summer operating orders.

Turtle hunter is ducky friend

From the Jvl Gazette



...When he was younger, he collected them on vacations to his family’s summer home on Lake Koshkonong. He has since retired to that home.

...The turtle season is July 15 to Nov. 30, but Swann usually traps in mid-July, which he said is prime season

...Turtles usually aren’t dangerous to humans in the water—they’ll often turn away or just hunker down, Swann said. But being captured triggers their aggression

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Previous Post
HERE

Shoreland management plan goes inland

From Capital Region Business Journal

HERE

...The proposed standards are based on lot size and buffer zones. For urban water bodies, the plan proposes a minimum lot size of 20,000 square feet and 100-foot width, with a minimum 37.5-foot vegetative buffer zone and 75-foot building setback. Minimum lot sizes in developing and rural areas are two and four acres, respectively, with correspondingly larger buffer and setback requirements.

Approximately three-quarters of all shoreland properties in the county, particularly in urban areas, cannot satisfy these requirements
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Previous Post
HERE

Lake Level = 777.63

If you have a problem with the SLOW-NO WAKE remaining on the river south of Newville to Indianford, please call the Fulton Town Hall, Chair, Evan Sayre 608-868-4103

Town Website HERE

It is apparent that Mr. Sayre only responds to the squeaky wheells, such as
this person

If you are upset that the SLOW-NO WAKE has been ignored by most boats this weekend, then call the Rock County Sheriff's Department

Lt. Gary L. Groelle (608) 757-7906
Previous Post
HERE

________________________________

The Lake District has no role in imposing or removing the slow-no wake orders.

But if this section of the river is going to be the only section from Jefferson to Indianford to remain slow no wake, then it might make sense for Rock County to ENFORCE it!!

Either remove it or enforce it!!

Town of Fulton has simply created unwarranted confusion. And Rock County should take input from other sources, espcecially when the town hall in Fulton is CLOSED on Fridays, leaving the Lake District to field complaint calls.

Email Re; Flooding

Mr Christianson,
I would like to with draw my property from the lake district. I have never supported the Lake District from the very start, And even less now. My home was flooded this year first time in 30 years. Now you want to raise the water level 7" so I am thanking if it was lower by 1 foot it would have saved a lot of property owners some big$$$$. For who I ask. My property address N1665 Groeler Rd
Town Of Koshkonong.

Jack Mays
920-563-6504
____________________________
UPDATE

Mr. Mays -

WI State Statutes (Chapter 33.33) provides the process for detachment.
HERE


Did you happen to attend the annual meeting? Hydrologist Rob Montgomery presented a terrific PowerPoint, indicating why current lake levels have no impact on flood behavior or severity.

We will post it on the website soon.

From Sound Off - 608-755-8335

On lake district:

The plan of Brian Christianson and Jeff Folk on the Rock Koshkonong Lake District Board is very simple: Squelch negatives against raising water levels with propaganda and demonize those who disagree. People need to read the real scientific information from the DNR.

778.10 and dropping 2"+ per day

We are still 22.8 inches ABOVE DNR Summer Operating Orders.

The Rock River, from the lake south, thru Newville, to the Indianford Dam is STILL Slow-No Wake.

The lake and the river north to the Jefferson Dam can be navigated at full speed - but please be repsectful of our neighbors on Blackhawk Island.