Okauchee Lake Management District ends harvesting season, outlines equipment and seawall work

The Okauchee Lake Management District reported at its Nov. 11 meeting that the 2024 aquatic-harvesting season is finished and that crews completed a rebuild of the 35-year-old southern seawall.

Brady Mullikin, the district's Lake Operations Manager, said the crew finished seasonal work and is preparing equipment and the facility for the off-season. Mullikin told commissioners the harvester fleet will be down by one unit for the 2025 season while a damaged harvester is evaluated and repaired; Inland Lake Harvesters provided a repair bid that has not yet been totaled. An insurance representative has been contacting district staff weekly about the claim, and the board was told the district may need to rent a harvester for 2025 if repairs are not completed.

Mullikin also reported that facility work and mechanical repairs are progressing. The district plans to prioritize a northern seawall rebuild next season after completing the southern wall this year. Commissioners asked staff to track labor time and repair expenses closely so costs attributable to insurance could be identified.

Chair Tom Godar and Commissioner Brian Sichi thanked staff and the consultant for their efforts and discussed options for staffing and recordkeeping during the off-season. Mullikin said the last additional seasonal crew member will assist for one more week and that he remains available for off-season needs.

What happens next: staff will continue to work with the insurer and the vendor providing the repair estimate. The board discussed renting a replacement harvester as a contingency for 2025 and will consider funding and operational options during future budget discussions.