Flooding where Rock River meets Lake Koshkonong

FORT ATKINSON (WKOW) -- Jefferson County had its worst flooding south of Fort Atkinson, where the Rock River flows into Lake Koshkonong.

Emergency officials shut down seven roads Tuesday morning along the river. Those included Black Hawk Island, Lamp, Vets, Bark River, Rock River, Ralph and Buena Vista. Black Hawk Island and Lamp were the hardest hit.

By noon, Black Hawk Island Road was practically unpassable west of Highway 26.

The VFW post on Veterans Lane was completely surrounded by water and had to close because of it.

Despite the falling rains, there were a number of fishermen in the area on the Rock River holding a tournament.

Scott Killmon, Watertown, remarked "fishing sucked today that's all I have to (say). Ha! Ha!"

Killmon and other fishermen said the water levels were high, but still nowhere near their levels in June, when downtown Fort Atkinson flooded, along with much of southern Wisconsin.

"It's up a little bit. Not as bad as last year but it's getting up there and with this rain, it's not going to help. It's going to be pretty bad again," predicted Killmon.

His fishing buddy, Trig Maier, added "We didn't have the rain last year early. It was later in the year when we got the rain. We got all the thaw and everything coming and if we get more rain, I'm sure we're going to have more water this year."

Gary Moats, a homeowner who lives right next to the Rock River, watched the rising water levels encroach upon his backyard, but was unphased.

"It doesn't bother me but my wife, she's freaked out about it," he laughed.

Moats said his home wasn't damaged too bad in june from the floods. His home sits on an elevated plot, and the water never got past his crawlspace.

He said it was "A big inconvenience."

Moats said most of his neighbors share his upbeat attitude. Fishermen said they did not see anyone sandbagging along the river.