KEWAUNEE, WI (WTAQ) – Due to high water levels, a public boat launch is being closed by Kewaunee officials.
“We were hoping for increasing water levels a few years ago, but we’re ready for it to quit now,” explains Tom Kleiman with Accurate Marine.
Residents up and down the Lake Michigan shoreline are concerned following record water levels for the month of June on the Great Lakes.
Kewaunee leaders say about a hundred trucks and trailers can fill the parking lot on a typically busy weekend at the city’s public boat launch.
On Friday morning, there were only two, as high water covered most of the landing.
“We’re right at that level, and if it goes up more, we’re going to see more issues,” says Andy Holzem with Kewaunee Marina Manager.
According to him, it’s more than just flooding, since weather conditions have delayed construction on a new dock system, which created potholes beneath the swollen surface.
“There are open gravel pits basically at the top of these ramps, because we weren’t able to finish them before the water got so high this year,” explains Holzem.
Marina officials say they are forced to act with public safety as their top priority.
“We’re closing the ramp. Starting July first, at 8:00 in the morning, public works is going to put barricades up, and pull these ramps actually out,” says Holzem.
Fishermen will still be able to launch their boats at nearby Salmon Harbor Marina, which is typically a private boat landing that is being made available for public use.
“It’s a very substantial ramp, that will take care of quite a few different vessels. But it is only one launch ramp, and it will create a back log, so we’re asking that people understand during this unfortunate issue with the high water levels. We’re doing our best,” says Kleiman.
The City’s marina will remain open, while local leaders don’t know how long the public landing will stay closed.
“Kewaunee is open for business. The fish are still biting, and Mother Nature threw a curveball, but we’ll get through it,” says Holzem.
Levels on Lake Michigan are expected to continue to rise in July by another inch, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
