Open House at Bark RIver Fish Hatchery

Hi Lake District,

 

Mark your calendar!

 

Come out to the Bark River Fish Hatchery on Saturday, April 6 for the "Open House."  It's from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring your family and friends. The event is sponsored by the Fort Atkinson Wisconservation Club.

 

The hatchery is located on Rock River Road at the eastern edge of Fort Atkinson. Complimentary food and refreshments will be served. Raffles also available. - Jim Furley

Indianford Dam Gate Ops

YES!  All gates are 100% OPEN.

Now stop it!

Bark River Fish Hatchery OPEN HOUSE

NOTICE:

 

The Fort Atkinson Wisconservation Club will sponsor an Open House at the Bark River Fish Hatchery on:

 

Saturday, April 6, 2013

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Free Admission

Food, Refreshments

Raffle prizes

 

The hatchery is located on Rock River Road at the east edge of Fort Atkinson.

 

- Jim Furley, Fort Atkinson Wisconservation Club, email jfurley@dailyunion.com

 

Wake restrictions placed on Rock River

   The Rock County Sheriff’s Office has posted slow/no wake restrictions on the Rock River and Lake Koshkonong, according to a news release from the office.

   County ordinances require a slow/no wake posting on the Rock River when the water level exceeds 7.5 feet on Lake Koshkonong and 6.5 feet in Afton, according to the news release. The level on the lake on Thursday was 8.57 feet; the level at Afton is 7.44 feet.

   The sheriff’s office is mandated to monitor the levels, even though the weather is not good for recreation, according to the news release.

   Deputies will begin placing slow/no wake signs along the river at all public access points between the northern southern Rock County lines.

Where's our 80 degree March?

Walleye at Indianford Dam

Dredging Update 3-11-13

Construction is nearly complete with only punch list items outstanding.

·         The silt logs have been pinned to the berm for temporary stabilization and the silt curtain has been removed.

·         Remaining work includes completing the carp gate anchorage work (being performed while on site), setting the final placement of the rock at the back of the dredge placement area (being performed later that day), finishing the boat launch grading (being performed later that day), applying the polymer, removing the tubing used for artesian well control, cleaning up the staging area and removing the snow fence, and removing the traffic controls when snowmobile traffic is no longer a concern.

·         With only wrap up items remaining, the site will be inspected on a three-week basis until permanent stabilization has occurred.

Email Explaining How riprap works on Dredge Project

Rick

I'm sending you this email response to your concern regarding the visibility of the heavy riprap on the lakeward face of the stone berm that contains the dredge spoil. We looked this issue over, and we think that the riprap that was specified is in place, but much of it is currently partially obscured by smaller breaker run material placed on top of it, and is also obscured by snow and ice. There is what we considered:

1.      Tonnage of riprap placed: the design called for approximately 500 tons of heavy riprap to be placed, and the total from the truck weight tickets is approximately 650 tons. Granted, some of that material was placed on the original lakeshore protection, but the tonnage of stone placed on the lakeward face of the stone berm is greater than quantity specified in the construction plans.

2.      Photo log of berm construction: we've assembled photographs from February 11 through March 4, which show the placement and presence of the heavy riprap along the shoreline, and also the evident covering of that riprap with breaker run material to widen the path that was available for transit of the quad axle trucks that were delivering stone and dredge spoil. All I have with me tonight is a paper copy, but Danielle will forward you the photo log tomorrow morning.

3.      Photo log taken last Thursday, March 7: I had Badgerland Excavating expose the lakeward face of the berm at three locations with their backhoe. Photographs are attached. The photos showed that the heavy riprap is present, along with breaker run material placed over it.

I think that when the ice breaks up and after the first storm or two, the breaker run stone will settle into crevices within the heavy riprap, and the lakeward face of the berm will be well protected. We'll keep an eye on this, and I suggest we walk the berm sometime later this spring to confirm the stone placement.

We will place the supports for the carp gate tomorrow. When you get back from your trip, we can discuss the details of the carp gate placement and operation.

Phase 1 Dredging Ending this week - Lake Koshkonong and Mud Lake

Dredging Update 3-4-13

Construction is 95% complete.

·         Remaining work includes minor grading in the dredge area, completing the work on the carp gate and setting the final placement of the gravel at the back of the dredge placement area, finishing the installation of the  temporary stabilization measures, installing the settling plates, finishing the boat launch, removing the silt curtain, removing the tubing used for artesian well control, and removing the traffic controls when snowmobile traffic is no longer a concern.

·         When I was on site, the silt logs for temporary stabilization were due to be installed that day.

·         MARS will work with Badgerland to develop a modified carp gate anchorage design to provide a more secure base by using steel construction. This modified design will be clarified the week of March 4th for installation the week of March 11th.

·         With the project nearing completion, one more weekly inspection will be performed the week of March 11th, and then the site will be inspected on a three-week basis until permanent stabilization has occurred.

Beloit man dies after snowmobile plunges into Lake Koshkonong

TOWN OF MILTON—A Beloit man is dead after his snowmobile went
 into open water early Sunday on Lake Koshkonong.

According to a news release from the Rock County Sheriff’s Department,
officers in an airboat found Willie A. Guzman, 47, of Beloit, in the water and
unresponsive about 400 yards offshore at Lakeview Drive in the town of Milton.

The sheriff’s office said Guzman’s snowmobile had apparently plunged into
open water in an area on the lake’s south end where it narrows and flows
into the Rock River.

Emergency crews found Guzman at about 3:40 a.m. Sunday morning,
over two hours after his snowmobile went in the water, according to reports.
He was taken to Mercy Hospital and Trauma Center, where he was later
pronounced dead, according to reports.

Lakeshore residents apparently had reported the accident shortly after
1 a.m. Sunday, after they heard someone yelling for help.

Guzman’s riding partner, Lewis Masterson, 46, of Beloit, whose snowmobile
also had plunged into the lake, later came into the Countryside Inn, which
 is along Highway 59 south of the lake.

Masterson told authorities that he and Guzman were riding across the lake
on their snowmobiles when they got disoriented because of the dark and a
 fog that had fallen over the lake.

Masterson said he’d plunged into the water but was able to walk to shore.
He said he couldn’t find Guzman. It's not clear whether Masterson was injured
in the accident.

Authorities don’t believe alcohol played a role in the accident.