Tomah Lake Committee reports completed pondweed treatment, new public boat dock and dam repairs

The Tomah Lake Committee on May 28 reviewed recent maintenance and infrastructure work on the city’s lake, including a completed curly leaf pondweed treatment that came in under budget, the installation of a public boat dock in Butts Park, and completion of dam repairs after a lightning strike.

The committee was informed that the Solitude curly leaf pondweed application has been completed and that the project cost came in under the allotted budget. The committee also noted a razor-rake tool will be available for loan to lake residents to help manually remove weeds.

Committee members discussed several grant opportunities through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources that staff can research and apply for to support future work. Director Brandy Leis said she will follow up to clarify what a Wisconsin Lake membership would include and will report back to the committee.

On infrastructure, the committee recorded that the dam — which was struck by lightning about a year and a half ago — required older replacement parts that delayed repairs but that the work is now finished. Members also heard that a concrete public boat dock has been installed in Butts Park and is already being used by the public.

Discussion of shoreline protection focused on where rip-rap repair should be prioritized. The committee agreed to follow up on potential locations near the dam and to reach out to Wisconsin Lake membership or other qualified parties to tour the lake and advise on repair locations.

The committee applied for grants on behalf of the lake committee to purchase an informational sign board in Winnebago Park; Director Leis will follow up with Director Protz on the status of that sign-board application. Dredging plans were noted as a future-agenda item for further discussion.

The committee set its next regular meeting for July 16, 2026, at 5 p.m.