The Little Wolf River overflows it banks in Big Falls April 14, 2026. PC: Fox 11 Online
WAUPACA COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Big Falls dam is holding steady, according to the latest reports.
Emergency management Director Zac Van Asten said “The dam has not breached, nothing like that. The embankments that we’ve created, the sand the dirt the gravel and everything we brought in has held very well.”
Van Asten says the dam operator has been working alongside first responders. He noted the water levels are receding, and the weather service has projected less rain than anticipated for Tuesday night. In the meantime, officials will continue to monitor the situation.
“We have brought in truckloads of sand, gravel, different types of material. Private residents have even brought in beams, different types of things. Everybody is pulling together to help whatever they need,” Van Asten said.
Waupaca County Emergency Management issued a flash food warning at 10:16 a.m., and it is in effect until 4:45 p.m.
Authorities urge residents to sign up to receive alerts from Waupaca County’s website.
Van Asten said his department was notified around 8:40 a.m. When crews arrived, they could see immediately that there was a problem.
“We’re doing our best to contain it, go step-by-step, hour-by-hour, minute-by-minute and make decisions off of that,” he said.
Crews have been placing sandbags, sand and gravel along the river’s embankments to try to keep the water from going around the dam.
Should the dam fail, communities downstream that could be affected include Symco, Manawa, Royalton, New London, Weyauwega, Fremont and into Winnebago County.
“If you are in low lying areas below the Big Falls Dam you should move to higher ground immediately,” the advisory states.
Clintonville High School is open as a shelter location.
Meanwhile, evacuations are also taking place along the river in Weyauwega.
The fire department says people who live on Guth Road, Kurth Drive, Deer Haven Road, Ona Pines Road and Highway F, and close to Gills Landing, are asked to evacuate, taking all necessities.
The community center at city hall on Main Street is open for people who need somewhere to go.
County emergency management officials are working with the National Weather Service to monitor the forecast and model any breach of the dam.
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