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Winnebago County staff outline $1.0M+ Sammers Bay break wall plan and appeal for $90,000 in capital funds
Summary
County staff described a multi‑grant funding package and a bid just over $1 million to complete break walls and restore water exchange at Terrace Island / Sammers Bay, asked the committee for $90,000 in capital spirit funds to allow winter ice construction and warned that a key $440,000 DNR grant expires in March and requires local match.
County staff presented a multi‑year restoration project for Sammers Bay and Terrace Island that aims to re‑establish water exchange and stabilize shoreline after decades of erosion and island construction created poor water clarity and bird‑related problems.
The director (S1) described prior winter work in 2021–22 that removed rock and rebuilt break walls and said the current plan calls for finishing bridal walls 1–5 and portions of wall 11. Staff reported multiple grant sources and matching requirements: a Wisconsin Habitat Partnership Fund (WHPF) award of $440,000 that expires in March and requires a 29% match, NRDA funds (~$88,000 and ~$208,000 cited in packet), a $150,000 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative allocation and contributions from Ducks Unlimited and other partners. The low bid for construction came in at roughly $1,028,000 and staff asked the committee for a $90,000 allocation from capital spirit funds to allow winter ice‑season construction and secure matching funds without jeopardizing the larger grants.
The project remains contingent on DNR permitting: staff said an amendment to the DNR permit is required to access the ice and place rock, and they were awaiting DNR action. Staff said that if ice work cannot proceed they would perform summer barge construction at higher cost and pursue different grants; delaying some elements to 2027 was presented as an alternative.
Why it matters: the project aims to reduce shoreline erosion and improve water clarity and habitat but depends on a complex grant match strategy and on DNR permitting. Staff emphasized urgency because some grant dollars expire in March and matching commitments must be in place to draw the funds.
Next steps: staff requested committee consideration of a county capital allocation to bridge grant timing and said they would return with a formal business item; several related business items (stream bank and well abandonment grants) were approved during the same meeting.
