OCONTO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Green Bay Police and Green Bay Department of Public works are advising residents who live near the East River Due to monitor the rising water levels.
The water levels are rising as the northeast wind is causing the Bay to back up into the Fox and East Rivers. Residents who live along East Shore Drive and Lakeside Place near the bay have moved out as a precaution.
There’s snow, and there’s flooding. But conditions just get worse when you put those two together.
That certainly was the case for Oconto residents along the bayshore during the winter storm this weekend.
“It’s just all flooded out by the bay. it’s just terrible,” said Lea Schenider.
She tells FOX roads surrounding her home in Oconto were closed due to flooding, leaving her with more to deal than the snow on her walkway.
“We’ve had a wet basement this year that we haven’t had in many, many years. It’s really unusual because our house is up higher than most, but even our sump pump is going nonstop this fall.”
It’s more than what’s going on outside that’s causing problems for people like Schneider.
The city of Oconto asked people to limit how much water they use. That’s because it’s wastewater treatment plant was over capacity.
“I’ve been here for almost 20 years and this is the worst I’ve ever seen it,” said Jeremy Wusterbarth. He’s the superintendent of Oconto Public Works.
He tells FOX 11 dealing with high water, snow, and heavy winds cause problems for the Bayshore area, as water on the bay pushes ashore.
Wusterbarth says crews can’t do much as the rain and snow mix comes down, but more water means more cleanup.
“Sometimes well see maybe three to five inches of water. Today we had at least probably 15 inches, 16 inches. So we’re experiencing about a foot and a half of flooding.”
Measurements like those have the city asking people on the Bay to limit their water use, while the city’s water waste treatment plant tries to keep up with the water it is taking in.
As for Schneider, she’s choosing to see the glass half full.
“I guess that means I don’t have to do laundry!” said Schneider with a smile.
There were water use restrictions Sunday for places like the Town of Oconto, Town of Pensaukee and Town of Little River.
