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Waldo trustees table engineering approval after DNR outlines dam standards
Summary
The Village of Waldo Board discussed repairs and regulatory standards for the Waldo Millpond Dam with Andrea Stern of the Wisconsin DNR and voted to postpone approval of engineering work until the full board can meet in March. The DNR said the dam is classified as a "significant hazard," the flood-design requirement was raised to a 500-year standard in 2015, and engineers will likely need to draw down the pond for repairs.
The Village of Waldo Board of Trustees on Feb. 24 heard guidance from Andrea Stern of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on the Waldo Millpond Dam and postponed a decision on approving engineering work until its March meeting.
Stern told the board that engineering firms must calculate site-specific requirements for dam repairs and that Waldo Millpond Dam has been classified as a "significant hazard" dam, a designation that affects the standards any repairs must meet. "Requirements are village-specific, with the water volume and hazard rating being based on the individual community," Stern said.
Stern said the regulatory design standard for the site shifted in 2015 from a 100-year to a 500-year flood-event requirement after completion of a dam failure analysis. "The switch from a 100-year to a 500-year flood requirement occurred in 2015," she said.
On technical work, Stern said engineers will likely need to draw down the pond to proceed with repairs. "Yes, the engineers will likely need to draw down the water as part of the project," she said, adding that drawdown is common for dam repairs. She also advised that water-quality issues should be addressed within the broader restoration plan.
Board members asked whether the DNR could work within the Village's three-year loan cycle. Stern said the DNR is willing to work with the Village provided the Village demonstrates good-faith progress toward the project. She also said she would provide the board with DNR contact information for dredging; she noted dredging is not her direct area of responsibility. Stern confirmed that engineering costs are eligible to be included within an awarded grant.
On board business, Trustee Dennis Reinemann moved to approve the Waldo Millpond engineering; that motion died for lack of a second. Trustee Michael Hintz moved to table the item until the March meeting so the full board could be present; Trustee Steve Bunnow seconded the motion, and it carried. The board later voted to adjourn at 6:50 p.m.
The board did not record a roll-call vote tally in the minutes for the motions described. The item will return to the board agenda in March when all trustees are expected to be present.
