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The WWMD is finally at a point where we have some current pricing and real options to potentially move forward in 2026 with an Ecosystem Restoration project. If you recall, in 2022 a dredging plan was presented and ultimately voted down by the board. The second phase of that project was contingent upon a property that was being sold would eventually become available for use as a disposal site for over 50,000 cubic yards of sediment. That property is now available and in play for use as a disposal site.

Through research, referrals, and good fortune, we now have three options for restoring our waterway:

-Traditional hydraulic dredging, which involves pumping a sediment/water mix to a containment site, much like the Brown’s Lake Project, could result in 189,000 cubic yards of sediment being removed from our waterway at a price we should be able to accept.

- Drawdown dredging, which involves drawing down the river prior to October 15th, would allow us to remove even more sediment, and history tells us that this could cost us 50% - 60% less than hydraulic dredging. Our engineers have prepared a proposal to get us there and a plan to start in 2026.

- Last, we have a new technology that is still being proven and tested in Wisconsin that has a tremendous upside and would not require us to utilize disposal sites, thousands of dump trucks, thousands of gallons of diesel consumption, dredging pipe or dredging personnel. The technology provides oxygen throughout the water column through nanobubbles and promotes consumption of the muck, as well as binding the phosphorus in our water and muck to an inert state, where it does not promote growth of undesirable weeds, reduces algae blooms, and improves water clarity. A pilot test study in central Wisconsin showed reduction of twelve inches of muck in seventy-five days in a 2 acre marina, and water went from less than six inches of visibility to twelve feet.

The WWMD received a proposal in late August for hydraulic dredging. The proposal is thorough, prepared by individuals with unparalleled knowledge of our waterway, and an eagerness to perform the work. Since our original bids in 2022 of $6,100,000 and $7,000,000, interest from dredging contractors has been hard to find, and the only realistic pricing we received was over $10,000,000. This unsolicited bid we recently received would achieve the 2022 goals and remove over 25% more sediment than that plan, at a price similar to the 2022 prices. This project involves thirty-five foot wide navigation lanes up to five feet deep in areas outside of the main river channel.

We approached one of our engineers, Geosyntech, in late June about leading us from concept to completion on a drawdown dredging project. This would involve lowering the water level using the Waterford dam to drop the water level five feet from the ordinary high water mark, likely in mid-October (latest possible date dictated by WI DNR). Once the exposed river/lakebed has frozen solid enough, contracted local grading companies would excavate the somewhat dried, frozen muck and haul it to nearby disposal sites. Likely in late February the dam would be adjusted to its typical position and water level would be restored to the level we are used to. Geosyntec has prepared a comprehensive plan and proposal with a project time frame spanning from 2026 to 2027.

The least developed plan is a nanobubbles project, which would involve investing in Molaear nanobubbles generators, strategically located throughout the waterway. Some of these devices require atypical electric power that is not normally found in residential neighborhoods. Others require powering from riparian homes. The equipment is quiet and minimally invasive from a visual perspective, and does not hinder navigation. The work that these machines do is not limited to a narrow navigation channel, only the distance in which they can pump out the bubbles. A similar project, still currently being implemented in central Wisconsin, came at a price of $8,000,000, and is being heavily watched and reviewed by the DNR. No negative side effects have been recorded as a result of their usage. There are over 600 installations of these systems worldwide. This option provides the entire waterway with clearer, cleaner water, potential to remove sediment naturally, reduce algae blooms, and reduce invasive aquatic plants.

Click below for the latest maps and project details.