KAUKAUNA, WI (WTAQ) – An economic study of the Fox Locks has shed light on the 17-lock system’s economic potential.
It lays out four options pertaining to the two locks that are currently closed, Menasha and Rapide Croche.
Scenario one assumes both the Menasha lock and Rapid Croche lock remain closed, which is projected to yield a $42.9-million dollar economic output.
A second scenario involves the Menasha lock opening and a boat transfer station being built at the Rapide Croche lock, with a $210-million dollar projection.
Scenario three assumes the Menasha lock remains closed and has the boat transfer station being built at the Rapid Croche lock, coming in with a $167.7-million dollar projection.
The fourth scenario has the Fox River navigable through all 17 locks and calls for the construction of a Visitor Center at Appleton’s Lock #3 near Lawe Street, giving a projected output of $290-million dollars.
The study was conducted by the UW-Oshkosh economics department.
Fox River Navigational System Authority Chairman Tim Rose expects a decision on the future of the Menasha lock, which has been closed since September 2015 to prevent the round goby from entering Lake Winnebago, in the near future.
“We’re looking at different types of barriers that can be put in to keep the invasive species down river. We’ll have some answers to that probably within the next few weeks.”
However, Rose expects the timeline will be much different on determining the course of action for the Rapide Croche lock, which has been restored but hasn’t been navigable in more than 20 years, noting they ran into complications with their last plan.
“We thought it would cost somewhere around $3.8-million dollars, and it came in at almost $8-million dollars.”
Rose explains the idea behind a potential new Visitor Center.
“It’s going to be one floor of a five-story condominium building. What we’re trying to do is build an interactive operation.”
FRNSA says it would take a period of several years for any of these scenarios to play out fully.
