SNW Removed, but Postings Remain

As of today, we see boat landings still posted SNW - even though the order was removed last Wednesday.

Should anyone wonder why RKLD is pressing for a better, standardized system?

Imagine if the interstate speed limit were lowered, but old signage remained.

SNW Orders Clearly Too Prohibitive and Arbitrary

As stated in past posts, the town of Fulton has a "policy" that orders a SNW on the river at 777.5 and removes the SNW at 777.0

Had the RKLD not challenged the county ordinance on grounds that it is not constitutional, and initiated negotiations to assist Rock County with writing an enforceable ordinance, the Rock River from Indianford upstream to Lake Koshkonong would have remained Slow No Wake the entire holiday weekend.

Even today, the river is ABOVE 777.5.

Simply because piers of a very few are underwater at 777, or even 778 is not a legal reason to impose SNW orders.

Slow Drop Continues on Lake and River

Happy Memorial Day!

Hug a Vet Today!

SNW REMOVED TODAY

Further adding to the confusion....

If SNW was removed on May 10th?

May Weather for Edgerton, WI

May 10, 11 and 12 - temps 86, 85 and 84 degrees -- Prime Boating Weather.

Boat traffic would still have been limited however, given the mid week, work week, summer temps.

C'mon, it's obvious the Slow No Wake is imposed to protect a few piers that are set too low, and removed only when public pressure or a holiday weekend is upon the county/Town of Fulton.

More on the subjective Slow No Wake (Lake Koshkonong)

If the NOAA Action Stage standard for applying and removing the SNW orders were the objective standard, then the SNW order would have been removed May 10th.

NOAA

Lake Koshkonong Lake Level Meaurement NOAA "Action Stage"

Brian -
Thanks. I have read your briefs on that and expect you to win that battle, eventually.

What I haven’t heard anything about is, assuming RKLD does eventually win, or Rock County gives in and replaces one-man-rule with a numerical rule, what would the numerical rule be, and where does it come from?

Ken
_________________________________

Ken –
For purposes of negotiation and understanding the concept of a standard, I suggested the NOAA “action Stage” which is 779.

Right now, Fulton “wants” a SNW order at 777.5 and “wants” it removed at 777.00

777.00 happens to be the level that RKLD is litigating in favor of a new DNR water level order – so if RKLD prevails, and Fulton’s “policy” remains, the SNW will be essentially permanently in effect.

Brian

Fulton Demontrates What is Wrong with Slow No Wake Application

So, as you see below, the Town of Fulton issues a memo on Monday morning indicating the conditions are acceptable to remove the Slow No Wake Order -- 5 days later, on Friday (tomorrow).

Yes, Lake Koshkonong water levels are/were dropping, but on Monday, the weather forecast for the remaining week was.....RAIN!

We need no further evidence that the SLOW NO WAKE order is applied and removed (especially true for removing the order) in a blatant arbitrary and punitive fashion.

By the way - today's lake level is 777.96 (up from yesterday).

On Monday, the lake level was 778.11 (a drop of 1.8 inches).

We must ask ourselves, is the county/town applying the Slow No Wake Order for the purpose the state statutes intended it to be applied, or, is it applied and removed arbitrarily, such as when the Holiday Weekend begins and County and Town Leaders don't want their phones ringing from their prohibition of boat wakes and their inability to enforce the order?

Frankly, if it is acceptable to remove the Slow No Wake order on Friday for the 3-day holiday weekend, then the town has violated its stated "policy" of removing the Slow No Wake at 777.00 and RKLD has proven our case that current procedures violate the Public Trust Doctrine that governs Wisconsin's waterways.

No Standard to Slow No Wake Orders

Brian,
I have gotten pretty good at analyzing the USGS water gauge and stream-flow data histories. It makes sense it we plan to convince Rock County to a more numerically defined formula to first test that formula on the historical data to address and rebut inevitable concerns that it will cause confusing results such as no-wake alternating on and off in short order. If you would like my help, please let me know.
Ken
_____________________________
Ken –
Our Hydrologist Rob Montgomery has already provided the charts and graphs and modeling to the county staff at the courthouse.

The issue is, the County Sheriff believes he has sole authority to impose the SNW at his discretion – or, from input from the town of Fulton.

RKLD Legal counsel does not believe this is constitutional – so we are trying to find a working, objective standard that meets constitutional mettle.
Brian

NOT UNTIL FRIDAY - Why?

Memo

To: Sheriff Bob Spoden, Rock County Sheriff’s Dept.
CC: Ed Marshall, Town of Janesville, Tom Presny, Parks Director, City of Janesville, Lori Williams, Rock County Parks Director
From: Evan Sayre, Town of Fulton Chairman
Date: May 24th, 2010
Re: Slow No Wake

The high water that we were experiencing has receded to a level we feel allows for the normal operation of water craft in our township. Therefore, we are requesting that the slow no wake restriction be lifted as of Friday, May 27th, 2011.

If you have any questions, feel free to call the Town Chairman, Evan Sayre at 608-774-4575.
Thank you!

Koshkonong Continues to drop slowly

Lake Level = 778.05

Down 17 1/4 inches since May 1st = 24 days

Stranded fishermen rescued

KOSHKONONG - Two fishermen whose boat motor lost power on a choppy Lake Kosh­konong Sunday afternoon were rescued as their drifting watercraft took on water.

David DeMoss Sr. of Janesville and Michael Sather of Beloit became stranded when the storms began to hit the lake. They called for help via their cell phones and Fort Atkinson Fire and Rescue responded to the distress call at 2:50 p.m.

Firefighters launched their res­cue boat from the Blackhawk Boat Club at the mouth of the Rock River because the water there was calmer than on the lake, which was experiencing waves of up to four feet in some areas. A heavy rescue unit was dispatched to the end of Blackhawk Island Road, where personnel had a clear view of the lake. This unit took command and used equipment to help locate the distressed boat.

Rescue workers were at first only able to locate one boat in the area described, which was not in trouble. Mutual aid was requested from Milton Fire and Rescue, the Rock County Sheriff's Department and Jefferson County Sheriff's Office boat when the distressed boat could not be found. However, it was located before mutual aid responded.

The fishermen had kept in contact via phone with dispatch.

Fort Atkinson Fire Department Capt. Mike Reel reported that, upon rescuers' arrival, the boat was less than a foot out of the water, and had about 20 minutes left before being completely submerged. Fort Atkinson Fire and Rescue sent one swimmer into the water to attach a rope between the two watercraft, so the men - dressed only in shorts - could board the rescue boat. Both fishermen showed signs of hypothermia.

The rescue boat docked at Riverfront Resort on Blackhawk Island, where the men were attended to by fire department personnel and then checked over by Ryan Brothers Ambulance Service emergency medical technicians. Neither man was transported for further medical attention.

Their boat was left adrift. It beached itself on Loga Point while being watched by Fort Atkinson Fire and Rescue personnel.

There is no reason why the River should remain Slow No Wake...

Lake Level = 778.17 Today

Thankfully This is Not Lake Koshkonong

Remarkable Mississippi flood photos

Improving the DNR

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

...The agency's first priority always should be making sure Wisconsin's natural treasures get the protection they need. But if that can be done in a more customer-friendly way with consistent rules and regulations, and solid accountability, so much the better.

Delavan Lake dredging project scheduled to start in mid-June

From the Janesville Gazette

...The plan is to remove 45,000 cubic yards of sediment from the inlet and pump it through a pipe 900 feet to an area behind Town of Delavan Fire Station No. 1 on Town Hall Road.

Lauderdale Lake officials want controversial raised boardwalks over wetlands

From the Janesville Gazette

Fines are not the central issue. If the court enforces the tickets, the district must re-evaluate how it uses the property to accommodate the popular ski shows and other uses, said Scott Mason, district president.

LAKE KOSHKONONG WETLAND ASSOCIATION: Koshkonong Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid Improvement

From the WDNR Magazine

Download the PDF.

Current Lake Level

Lake level = 778.83

Since May 1st = Lake has dropped nearly 8 inches.

Safety Chain is in

At the dam at Indianford.