Sawyer County committee OKs land swap to allow Fish Trap Dam repair; moves plan to full board

The Sawyer County Land, Water and Forest Resources Committee voted to forward a proposed land swap to the full county board so the county can proceed with a larger rock-chute design for the Fish Trap Dam replacement.

County conservation staff said the project requires acquisition of a small parcel downstream of the current dam in order to install the larger rock chute. The county would exchange 2,357 square feet (about 0.05 acres) of property on the upstream side with the adjacent landowner, Steve Perry, for the small downstream parcel needed for construction.

Conservation staff told the committee that the downstream parcel is largely below the ordinary high-water mark and that the county rarely used the upstream strip it would give to Perry. The staff member said the county surveyor has prepared a legal description, that land-records staff can prepare deeds for the exchange, and that the department did not expect to engage outside attorneys for the transaction because of the small acreage and limited complexity.

Committee member Jim Evans made the motion to forward the land-swap proposal to the full county board; Dale Magnuson seconded. The chair called for the vote; members answered “aye,” and the motion carried.

The exchange is required to move the Fish Trap Dam replacement design from planning toward construction. Conservation staff said the swap is a necessary step for the engineering plan; the county will return to the full board with the legal descriptions and deeds prepared by county staff.