SHIOCTON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – River levels are rising in Outagamie County, where the Wolf River is approaching flood stage in Shiocton.
Open water flowing on the Wolf River in January has many people in Shiocton taking notice.
“I’ve been in town since the early 90s. I’ve not ever seen the river this high, this time of the year,” said Terri James, Shiocton Village President.
James lives along the river. She tells FOX 11 the water started rising Monday, during the most recent storm.
“It went up, and down, and up and up, and down and up. More up than down.”
Her basement had some flooding too.
“I think this year, we’ve had maybe four weeks out of the year that we didn’t have water in the basement.”
2019 was a wet year in Shiocton, and so far it’s more of the same in 2020.
“Everything’s a puddle. The ground is hard enough where it doesn’t have anywhere to go,” said James.
The high water will impact those looking to use the river.
“It’s been a rough year for everybody,” said Anita Mannino, Riverside Pump-n-Munch.
Mannino tells FOX 11 winter business at the Riverside Pump-n-Munch is down, and fishing is on hold.
“Yeah, bring your boat. Bring your ice fishing gear. Do a little of both.”
She says some snowmobile trails nearby are underwater.
“They come here to gas up, and yeah, we’re missing all that. It’s going to be interesting how the rest of the winter season will go.”
“I think it keeps everybody on edge and ready for spring. Let’s face it, if it doesn’t go down, stays this high, and if we get the amount of snow that they’re predicting we would get, spring’s going to be interesting,” said James.
The National Weather Service predicts the part of the Wolf River flowing through Shiocton should crest by Sunday morning.
