[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6078289,"mediaKeyId","2960196-9214a481580d9bf6eb499203cb43e08b","parentId",2960196,"title","Vernon County officials outline multiyear plan to decommission aging watershed dams","audioSeconds",362,"startMs",667000,"endMs",1029000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2960196-9214a481580d9bf6eb499203cb43e08b&start=667&end=1029","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2960196-9214a481580d9bf6eb499203cb43e08b/thumbnail_667000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6078289/Vernon-County/Wisconsin/Vernon-County-officials-outline-multiyear-plan-to-decommission-aging-watershed-dams","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6078289-4328d17441e72dc8bbf078005eb41408/orig.mp4?Expires=1770916533&Signature=OqLEjH3GdMJjL4shf5LpybNI93mfMtSuFKr-~W9HYGZ4ZVorL4p9Raf8lI0Jm-8Gxyv~FAOs8EihK3vWrEP-wO-I0BaQKLkLWr1youiWKkZSdGKHZS5~Jbf15-C~tJ7dYHVAN3EgSGdM9z6gMvlIsxgG3GyfWHF-I54LvLlMmdTS6JoL32tJ7UNqPxVSSs18wo7EWcFehvTAAlmw1qvLP4gzMJoX7pl1~RxPEZVE4RIbStE0a7K-PA6AEeEhBu0eaeq-LKO52Tm9Xl4FR6i-o4KlwC3FUOodwfEvConc-kJrxBkd605TMUHmpDAMEqhRTovwzwqeAXmam5QvFzVfug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","WI / Vernon County ","date","2025-02-13T00:00:00Z","article","County staff on the Vernon County Land and Water Conservation Committee provided a detailed update on plans to decommission multiple aging conservation dams after a watershed study showed many structures have passed their design life and federal repair support will be limited.

The presentation, led by Mark (staff presenter) and summarized by committee member Cassie, said the county will pursue site-specific decommissioning designs where federal funding is available and that several dams will likely be removed rather than repaired. “There won’t be any federal support moving forward for dam repair, dam maintenance,” Mark said during the presentation.

Why it matters: the county manages dozens of small watershed dams built with Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) technical support and local sponsorship under 50-year operation/maintenance plans. Many of those agreements and the structures’ expected service lives have expired; the county is under Department of Natural Resources (DNR) orders to repair or remove at least some dams and faces constrained funding and a long timetable.

Most immediate takeaways
- West Fork and the unnamed “**** Creek” subwatershed: staff recommended decommissioning for the majority of those dams. The West Fork has nine dams; staff said seven of those are candidates for decommissioning. Boom Creek’s five dams were also recommended for removal.
- Jersey Valley: staff described a long repair history and said Jersey Valley is an exception — it may be eligible for a federal-supported rebuild. County staff noted a prior multi‑row grout curtain and approximately $4,000,000 in subsurface grouting performed to stabilize that dam after a 2005 fish kill and seepage problems.
- Recent and past work: the county used Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) disaster dollars to repair five dams (Jersey Valley, Hidden Valley, Seas Branch, Yitchi Primmer, and Rung Hollow) and reported roughly $14,000,000 spent on those repairs. County presenters also showed progress photos and construction details for Mills (Milsina) where breach repair and staged removal work is underway.

Technical and design details
- Decommissioning vs. removal: staff clarified the difference: removal can mean hauling out concrete and pipe, while federal decommissioning options sometimes propose leaving or burying conduits on-site or grouting them shut. Mark explained, “A dam decommissioning is the federal government’s proposing to bury the pipe on-site, in some cases, or remove it, or grout it shut.”
- Site methods described: at Mills staff documented construction of bypass channels, rock checks, bank regrading and compaction of clay from the dam into new valley contours, staged sediment management and temporary stilling basins to maintain downstream water clarity during work.
- Change orders and costs: staff reported an engineering/design change order of approximately $61,008.72 for additional construction oversight and velocity‑reduction design work at one project; another site (Hawk Island) had change orders of about $22,500 for extending a lobe and adding a rock check. For Mills, one low design quote referenced in the presentation was $38,771 and a construction bid of about $365,000 was named for that contract.

Anticipated funding needs and schedule
- Staff said current design funding is on hold for some federal programs and that they are awaiting allocation from NRCS or other federal sources. The presentation captured preliminary design funding estimates provided by staff contact Steve Becker: roughly $1,800,000 for West Fork designs, $1,500,000 for the **** Creek designs, and $2,200,000 for Jersey Valley design work. Presenters emphasized these were estimates and subject to federal allocation.
- Timeline: staff estimated non‑Jersey design packages could require roughly 18 months to complete once funding arrives; Jersey Valley designs were estimated at about 24 months because of complexity and anticipated public engagement. One speaker said construction removals might begin in the 2027–2028 timeframe, depending on funding and final designs.

Community considerations and next steps
- The presentation stressed the long timeframe and need for public engagement. Committee members and attendees raised concerns about heritage and local recreation; one attendee suggested preserving historic dam elements and erecting interpretive signage. Mark said federal partners often document the sites and that wayside/historic markers are a likely component of larger projects.
- Staff repeatedly noted uncertainty tied to a change in federal administration and pauses in some grant or program disbursements; that uncertainty has delayed design funding in the near term.

What the committee directed or decided
- No formal vote or land-use decision was taken at this meeting. Staff concluded by asking the committee to share the watershed presentation materials with local stakeholders and continue to pursue grant and design funding. Staff will return with updates about design funding allocations, site-specific designs and any DNR‑required timelines.

Ending: County staff emphasized that decommissioning is a multiyear, site‑by‑site process and that the work is intended to reduce long‑term public safety risk from failing dams while balancing ecological and community impacts.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Vernon County Conservation and Education Committee Meeting February 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","County staff on the Vernon County Land and Water Conservation Committee provided a detailed update on plans to decommission multiple aging conservation dams after a watershed study showed many structures have passed their design life and federal repair support will be limited.","taxTitle","Vernon County, Wisconsin","taxId",67955,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6078285,"Committee approves routine contracts, grant applications and three wildlife‑damage payments",3037,3000,3040000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2960196-9214a481580d9bf6eb499203cb43e08b&start=3&end=3040","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2960196-9214a481580d9bf6eb499203cb43e08b/thumbnail_3000.jpg","/articles/6078285/Vernon-County/Wisconsin/Committee-approves-routine-contracts-grant-applications-and-three-wildlifedamage-payments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6078285-57c0b50f0d8dc8b5a90e44802f7bbedd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770916533&Signature=fpnmiivxxSW6uVtpdF~vCFKoo9w65hfteAjg4qB8Zwd32aTzZCVUzi5IYBzxvghae3sWP98V67HYFESl3mmINXVohZd~6cAZ3P2PQ~JhoKF8~eaPDib5FRnr6oUbP9xwFTElwXsheNcqrrGra2IL5cPT0ZQEWg6C5iKGMsLm1yW0YmpZ0ayBJEytjcrIyMlIm6tofn5ti4KzkqGRgoDcZzW7jhFxRDyNboGqgThHoNPniXH~K8JIWGW4B0vsIXa0gA6Ozioxpb46CUxMhYD9YSWDge6UTNqXOMI7IDxl8QI4ZVP3nXPc6QC-IHvjKx4ze0JvS0QJgmCKu8Eu3qmGjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Vernon County Land and Water Conservation Committee approved a set of routine actions at its meeting, including renewal of park service contracts, resolutions to pursue grant funding, and three approved wildlife‑damage claims.

The most immediate outcomes
- Minutes: Committee approved the prior meeting minutes after a motion from Dave and a second from Nathaniel; motion carried with aye votes.
- Parks cleaning contract: Members renewed the county’s park restroom cleaning contract with the incumbent vendor for 2025; Marty presented the item and staff said there is no price change this year. Motion to approve was made by Dave, seconded by Nathaniel; committee voted aye and the motion carried.
- Parks mowing contract: The committee renewed the parks mowing contract (same vendor) with no change in cost; motion from Dave, second from Nathaniel; motion carried.
- Snowmobile trails grant resolution: The committee authorized applying for the state trail aid program that reimburses clubs on a per‑mile basis (staff noted $300 per mile and approximately 246 miles countywide, roughly $74,000 of allocation). Motion and second were made and the resolution passed.
- Conservation aids grant resolution: Committee approved submitting an application for the small conservation aids grant (staff said these requests are typically about $5,000), motion carried.
- Wildlife damage claims: The committee approved three claims through the county’s wildlife damage program (standard $500 deductible applies). The payable amounts the committee approved were:
• John Hansen (Swenson Road): $4,201.79 payable after deductible.
• Jeff Hastings (Snowy Ridge Christmas trees): $4,967.00 payable; staff noted much of the damage was buck rubs and some occurred during a fence transition period.
• Robert Buckles (corn and soybeans): $3,795.33 payable.
The claims were moved, seconded and approved.

Context and procedure
Committee members emphasized that many of these items are standard annual business: cleaning and mowing vendors were retained with no price change, and the snowmobile trail and conservation aid actions are routine grant applications administered through the DNR portal and passed through to local clubs. Staff explained the trail aid program distribution process: clubs invoice or enter activities in the DNR portal; the county administers reimbursements and receives an upfront half allocation with reimbursements for additional spending.

Votes and records
Where the transcript records motions, movers and seconders were named (commonly Dave as mover and Nathaniel as seconder); roll‑call vote details were recorded only as unanimous “aye” votes in the meeting audio and minutes. No opposed votes were recorded.

Ending: The committee concluded these routine actions and moved on to other agenda items including NRCS updates, a lengthy watershed/dam decommissioning presentation, and extension educator reports.","The Land and Water Conservation Committee approved minutes, renewed parks cleaning and mowing contracts for 2025, authorized trail grant application and a conservation aids application, and approved three wildlife damage claims totaling roughly $13,000 in payable amounts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Vernon County officials outline multiyear plan to decommission aging watershed dams

Committee approves routine contracts, grant applications and three wildlife‑damage payments