SHAWANO CO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Shawano County is seeing historically low water levels throughout the area.
It’s a problem because it could mean county residents won’t be able to enjoy some of their summer activities.
“It’s disappointing because we bought the property because we wanted to be on the water and use the water… we’re going to have to spend more money to possibly extend the dock or change the position of the boat lift,” Shawano Co. resident Dale Strassburg said.
Karen and Dale Strassburg live along the Shawano Lake outlet.
They’ve had trouble transferring their boat from the lift to the water due to the low levels.
Less snow, ice melting early, and a dry spring caused the historically low water levels, according to Shawano Area Waterways Management.
The Shawano Dam also impacts the low water levels.
The dam controls how much water flows through nearby waterways, like the Wolf River and Shawano Lake.
Renewable energy leaders had gotten a permit to let more water in the dam and keep the water levels higher… but now that permit is expired.
It’s the same situation for resident Kurt Pelky.
“It seems like we’ve had to move the boats further and further out for depth. That becomes a situation, you have to end up adding more dock to the end of your existing dock.”
For now, energy leaders do not plan to pursue another another amendment allowing more water to flow through the dam, but residents continue to advocate for it.
“It almost sounds like the last letter we got, that they’ve kind of resigned themselves to the fact that there isn’t a whole lot more that could be done unless people rise up and get some action,” Strassburg said.
The Shawano Area Waterways Management says it continues to work on resolving this issue, but also says it realizes a timely resolution is unlikely.
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