Lake Delton to be dry this year

[TheMightyFavog]

Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Lake Delton - As engineers and experts discussed the monumental challenges of fixing a lake that drained through its breached shoreline, one aspect of Lake Delton's immediate future was clear Tuesday: The village's namesake will be dry this summer.

"The lake won't be filled this year," said village trustee and well-known businessman Tom Diehl, who made official the words many people didn't want to hear. "But it will definitely be back next season."

Engineers must first redirect Dell Creek, which brings water to Lake Delton from Mirror Lake, because the creek is now running straight through the newly carved, 400-foot wide chasm into the Wisconsin River, Morton said. The creek is supposed to flow out to the river over Dell Creek Dam.

Once engineers figure out how to redirect the stream into its original channel, the breached area will dry and crews can repair the gash that cut a swath through county Highway A. Just how that will be done has not been decided.

Read more: http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=760870

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This is not good. This part of Wisconsin is VERY dependent on the tourist trade. Lake Delton was home to a number of resorts, a popular water ski show and was one of the stops on the Duck tours. Lake Delton was also a pretty good place to go fishing, as well. As if the region does not have enough problems with soaring gas prices keeping tourists away, now the draining of Lake Delton is making things a lot worse. Hundreds of jobs and livelihoods will be ruined by this disaster.

Hopefully, engineers will be able to minimize the economic impact of this disaster by seeing to it that lake Delton is refilled as soon as possible.

[madrchsod]

1. that`s not good for those who live and have business

along the lake shore. we vactioned at the dells for 8 years and several of those years were "spent" staying along the lake. it`s going to put a dent in the season but they`ll get it fixed and ready for next year. the Tommy Bartlett show must go on!

[TheMightyFavog]

2. As I said in the GD cross-post...

Back in the 80s they drew down the lake about 8 feet to do some repairs on one of the dams, and once they diverted the water back, it took about two weeks for the water to return to normal (average dpeth is about 10 ft.) My guess is it'll take about a month for Lake Delton to refill again once they fix the gash carved by the flood waters.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

3. which is more important? Bartlett or mommy nature?

Mom wanted water to run free. Bartlett wants power boats with bikini-clad skiers.

In someways, I am cheering Mommy.

In NOLA, had the natural, regular periodic flooding of high water replenished the lands, NOLA would not have been sinking anywhere as fast, the floods would have not been damaging, and hundreds of thousands would not have been so badly affected. Nature reclaims what it wants to reclam.

[nels25]

6. Nuts to you!!

I honeymooned in the Dells and it is a very important economic factor to central Wisconsin.

Just how far back would you take the nation.

Horses, horse driven wagons, outhouses, how about fireplaces and one room shacks/log cabins.

Would that be far enough back for you??

Does impact on living standards mean anything to you??


Phooey, I for one want the Dells to be rebuilt.

No offense if I am being sharp with you, but sheesh.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

8. let's take another example

the entire Mississippi collection of dikes and dams.

If the Army Corpse of engineers had NOT diked up the northern section, but allowed the natural ebb and flow to continue, we would never have the disastrous flooding downstream. even their own scientists agree that the entire area would be better off without any dikes. But what is scientifically the best choice becomes a political impossibility.

I have visited the dells often, being just north of me, and frankly, the natural beauty is more impressive than some damned skiers. My underlying point is WE CANNOT WIN. A simple earth shaking, another storm, a big wind, and poof. we created another mess.

[nels25]

10. All right put that way than you have my

complete agreement. You see I believe to a large degree that as destructive as man has become and can be he has yet been able to match mother nature.

For instance the explosion of Krakatoa's was so much bigger that the biggest nuclear weapons we have developed as to be laughable.

Also an eruption of a volcano in the Philippines in the early 90's put more pollution in the air (ash) than the whole of human production in the 20th century (at least I remember reading that).

So at the risk of being tarred and feathered I find it hard to believe that we have damaged a world that has existed for millions of years to the point that we face certain death in less than 50 years unless we completely upend our current standard of living.

I can see conservation, and the laws passed in the 60's for clean air and water were absolutely needed.

Still I want this carbon footprint thing and other ideas thought through before we under take to completely re-organize our way of life.

Most people I know do not even understand what the carbon footprint is or how this whole carbon tax or sales will work, they think it equals taxes and higher energy prices.

Any way you completely correct when it comes to mother nature we are pikers, she has a lot more power than any military that has ever existed or ever will.

[noonwitch]

12. That volcano in 1992 cooled the whole planet

The summer of 1992 never got hot in Michigan-we had a few 80 degree days, and none over that. I remember, because I bought my first car with a/c that spring and rarely used it the first summer I had it.

The volcanic ash in the atmosphere covered most of the planet and blocked a lot of sunlight from getting through.

[happygoluckytoyou]

4. MN can send their broken bridge......

it's time for a melt-down.... good thing we are REBUILDING IRAQ

[Benhurst]

5. Rebuilding Iraq? We still haven't restored it to the pitiful condition it was

under Saddam Hussein. Pottery Barn rule, indeed!

But 58 permanent bases being built for The World's Only Superpower against the will of the Iraqi government and its people? That money should be used at home to help our people, not in Iraq to keep it captive to the whims of the neo-cons and the oil barons.

We should bring the troops home, make just reparations to the Iraqis for our immoral and illegal invasion and occupation, and start rebuilding America with the funds now being thrown away on overseas adventures and a bloated and corrupt military/industrial complex.

[snappyturtle]

7. Opps! I guess you didn't hear the statement * made to the Germans:

...that we are not seeking permanent bases in Iraq! BUT, diplomacy aside, everything and anything is on the table concerning Iran. I guess we'll have to get in line behind the ME before we get anything done in our country.

[snappyturtle]

9. Make that two bridges. nt

[Nickster]

11. Looks like things will be ok.

http://www.wisdells.com/WisconsinDellsMedia/PressReleases/pressarticle.cfm?pressid=112

THE COMMUNITY OF WISCONSIN DELLS ASSESSES BUSINESSES, REPORTS OVER 93% UNAFFECTED BY THIS WEEK’S STORMS
Wisconsin Dells, WI (June 10, 2008) -- The Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau has been working diligently with its member businesses and community leaders over the last 24 hours to assess the affects of this week’s storms and provide support. Lake Delton, a small man-made lake, broke through its banks, draining into the Wisconsin River, taking with it three homes and damaging two others. There are 16 small and medium-sized resorts and a handful of private rentals on the lake who are members of the Visitor Bureau. The Tommy Bartlett Show will be presenting an expanded sky and stage-only show beginning Thursday, June 12 at 4:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and then continuing daily at those times. A 1 p.m. show will be added beginning June 28. The Original Wisconsin Ducks have created a modified tour that continues to include the Wisconsin River and points of interest on land, while the Dells Army Duck Tours has also modified its tour. Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle has called on the Department of Natural Resources to work to refill the lake as quickly as possible. At a glance, here is today’s assessment:




Over 93% of the community’s tourism businesses were never affected and are open.

The vast majority of access roads were never affected, and access for travelers in and out of the community is clear.

A small portion of County A remains closed where the waters of Lake Delton spilled into the Wisconsin River. This is not a main visitor access road.

The Tommy Bartlett Show will present an expanded sky and stage show beginning Thursday, June 12 at 4:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. daily. A 1 p.m. show will be added beginning June 28.

The Original Wisconsin Ducks have modified their tour accordingly. The Dells Army Duck Tours have modified their regular tour and are working on gaining access to the Wisconsin River.