SHAWANO, WI (WTAQ)- A Shawano Waterway Group is facing a battle to get higher water levels on Shawano Lake.
Shawano Area Waterway Management (SAWM) President Gary DeFere says for the first time in three years, water levels on Shawano Lake are so low, it is unsafe.
“It’s causing damage, causing injury and causing people to hit sandbars and get thrown out of boats.”
DeFere says the difference was noticed over the holiday weekend.
“In the meantime, fishing on the lake is hurting, tourism on the lake for the county is hurting. People are in danger and we even had one of our board members die from a disease that he caught from the low water level.”
DeFere says the issue started three years ago when DNR started looking into lowering water levels, and ordered SAWM to conduct, and pay for a three-year study that would determine where the levels should be.
In March, the water levels were ordered to be lowered despite a study that the Management group paid for showing where the levels need to be.
He said the last two years, the levels were left alone while the study was being done.
DeFere says now the problems are more than just safety for Shawano as tourism dollars depend on Shawano Lake.
“It is the number one tourist draw in the county”
DeFere says the lake is lowered by 6-10 inches, and something needs to be done about it, or it will have long term negetive effects.
They are reaching out to elected officials for help and had over 200 people attend their annual meeting last week to express concern.
