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Vernon County Board approves PLAN‑PEIS for Coon Creek; supervisors vote 12–5 to accept study
Summary
The Vernon County Board voted 12–5 to accept the NRCS PLAN‑PEIS recommending decommissioning of 14 PL‑566 dams in the Coon Creek watershed and to accept NRCS funding to move to engineering and design; supervisors debated amendments and public commenters urged the board not to remove dams.
The Vernon County Board of Supervisors voted 12–5 on Aug. 15 to adopt Resolution 2024‑38, accepting the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) project plan and programmatic environmental impact statement (PLAN‑PEIS) that recommends decommissioning all 14 PL‑566 watershed dams in the Coon Creek watershed. Vernon County Conservationist Ben Wojahn presented the resolution and urged passage so the county could accept funding and proceed to engineering and design.
Wojahn told the Board that, while he understood opponents’ concerns, "it is hard to argue with the engineers and the expensive cost‑benefit analysis that was conducted," and that the resolution would not itself obligate the county to construction costs but would allow the County to pursue further design work. Public commenters, including Lars Bergan of rural Westby, questioned the PLAN‑PEIS assumptions and said they opposed removing the dams.
Supervisors considered several amendments and a motion to postpone so the Board could study dam‑by‑dam decisions; amendment motions to exclude dams in the Town of Christiana or to reserve case‑by‑case implementation failed, and a motion to postpone failed on roll call. On the final roll call vote the main motion carried 12 ayes to 5 nays (the minutes list Walleser; Kilmer; Eggen; Lawler; Muller as voting against). According to county staff, passage allows Vernon County to accept NRCS funding and proceed to engineering and design phases; any financial obligation would come later if the county signs a subsequent project agreement.
Board members who opposed amendments said they feared losing access to NRCS funds if the county issued counteroffers; supporters of delay said the Board should have more time to evaluate individual dam situations. The decision moves the PLAN‑PEIS into the next, engineering phase and keeps open the option for later dam‑by‑dam decision making.
