Park master plan proposes doubling High Cliff’s size, millions in upgrades

By Boating Winnebago

Apr

26

APPLETON — High Cliff State Park would more than double in size and get $11.3 million in upgrades under a proposal by the state Department of Natural Resources.

The draft master plan calls for the addition of 1,820 acres to the 1,195-acre park on the northeast shore of Lake Winnebago. Its boundaries would extend to Wisconsin 55 to the east and Calumet County Park to the south if the state acquires the additional land — which is in the hands of more than 100 landowners — at an estimated cost of about $9.1 million.

High Cliff, one of the state’s smaller parks, is Wisconsin’s fifth busiest, bringing in about 417,000 visitors annually, said Carolyn Morgen, park superintendent.

“What happens is the property just gets used a lot, it gets loved a lot,” Morgen said. “We would love to be able to expand and offer people more recreational opportunities.

“It is exciting. We also understand that it is for willing sellers only and it’s going to be a long process.”

The public can hear about the plan and comment on the park’s future at a May 7 meeting at the Sherwood Community Center. The master plan will be submitted to the state’s natural resources board for approval in June, Morgen said. Plans for specific projects will be drawn up once the master plan is approved.

While the park expansion could take years, work on upgrades to the park’s dated infrastructure and facilities could begin soon. Repairs to the park’s showers could start as early as this year, Morgan said.

Other projects, including a $1.5 million expansion of the family campground, will be prioritized based on need and available funds.

Morgen said it likely will take three to five years before bigger projects — such as the estimated $5.5 million marina upgrade — appear on the construction calendar. Funding can hold up the timeline, but projects can be paid for with state dollars, grants and donations, she said.

“I think there is a lot right now, and I think a lot of what happens with High Cliff is going to depend on the economy,” Morgen said. “If we have to wait for state funds, they’ll just get pushed back.”

High Cliff State Park’s last master plan was approved in 1982. It is supposed to be revised every 10 to 15 years once the plan’s goals are met, Morgen said.

The draft master plan calls for High Cliff to share a border with Calumet County Park and offers options to connect the two parks if complete land acquisition does not occur.

Frank Wasdovitch, Calumet County Parks Department director, said plans to connect the two parks through a trail system have been in the works for about a decade, but have stalled in recent years.

“We think it would be beneficial for both parks to be connected so there is an off-road type trail so people could safely go between the two parks,” Wasdovitch said.

The park’s northern neighbors are optimistic that plans for park expansion and improvements would increase business in Sherwood, said Village President Jim Rath. A portion of the state park is within the village’s boundaries, he said.

“We hope to have visitors spend more time and become a true destination for the people visiting High Cliff State Park,” said Rath, who plans to attend the May 7 meeting to learn more about the proposals. “The park is a treasured asset of the area.”

 

Park master plan proposes doubling High Cliff’s size, millions in upgrades | Green Bay Press Gazette | greenbaypressgazette.com.

Massive Ice Shoves Descend Upon Lakeside Homes

By Boating Winnebago

Apr

11

WBAY

Lake Winnebago – Swift and quiet, massive shoves of ice piled up onto the western shores of Lake Winnebago Tuesday — a natural event so phenomenal to witness, lakefront homeowner Michael Paulson couldn’t believe his eyes.

“I was looking out of that window getting a fork out of the drawer, and all of sudden I saw ice going through the yard where I’ve never seen ice before,” Paulson described. “The amazing part is, it wasn’t making any noise, silent.”

It took just five minutes for northeast winds gusting at nearly 40 miles an hour to propel the ice from water to land, stacking chunks up to thirty feet high in some spots and invading properties.

“Well it’s scary when it comes up because you don’t know how far the ice is going to come,” says Richard Mason, who’s lived on Lake Winnebago for more than 70 years.

But what’s so incredible about this event is not just how far the ice traveled but how dense and thick it is. Neighbors say normally it’s much more brittle.

A bench ripped out of the ground, a pergola knocked sideways, and boat decks snapped like twigs are among the casualties that will need to be taken care of.

“The damage is probably several thousand dollars on my property, but if you look to either side of me you can see my misery is shared with my neighbors,” says Bob Thom of Neenah.

While ice shoves may be common in this area, no one has ever seen anything like this. And until it all melts, there’s plenty of ice. They’re happy to share.

“Anybody needs free ice, we have lots of free ice. Help yourselves,” says Thom.

 

Massive Ice Shoves Descend Upon Lakeside Homes – WBAY.

Truck sinks in Winnebago County

By Boating Winnebago

Apr

1

NORTHEAST WISCONSIN – Although many are celebrating the arrival of spring, not everyone is thrilled about the warmer weather.

Don Herman from the Otter Street Fishing Club and Sunk? Dive and Ice Service sent FOX 11 this photo.

It happened on Lake Winnebago by Black Wolf Avenue near Oshkosh.

Herman said the driver went through the ice while coming back to shore from fishing.

The driver wasn’t injured, and Herman was able to pull the truck out of the water.

In Door County, officials say a 59-year-old Sturgeon Bay man went through the ice on his snowmobile.

It happened just before 6:45 p.m. Friday between the Maple-Oregon Street Bridge and the Bayview Bridge in Sturgeon Bay.

Police say the man was traveling toward the city’s downtown when he turned around and the back of his snowmobile went through the ice.

The man said he was in the water for one to three minutes up to his neck but was able to pull himself out. He was not injured.

Authorities said they suspected he had been drinking, and tell FOX 11 the man then admitted he was drinking. Officials say initial tests showed he was over the legal limit. He was arrested for operating while intoxicated.

Officials are urging everyone to use caution on the ice and venture out at their own risk.

The Door County Sheriff’s Department said conditions have deteriorated with the warm weather and the predicted rain will only make them worse.

They said anyone going out on the ice shouldn’t go alone, carry a cell phone, have proper clothing and equipment and be aware of current ice conditions and weather.

via Truck sinks in Winnebago County.

“Winnebago Waterways” aims at protecting lakes.

By Boating Winnebago

Mar

26

APPLETON — If you’re concerned about zebra mussels, boat landing fees, walleyes, algae blooms or swimmer’s itch that can accompany a dip in Lake Winnebago, a new five-county collaborative wants to hear from you.

Backed by a $50,000 matching grant from the Department of Natural Resources, the group is in the first phase a project to protect all aspects of the system that connects Lake Winnebago to Lake Poygan, Lake Winneconne, Lake Butte des Morts and parts of the Fox and Wolf rivers.

The five counties — Calumet, Fond du Lac, Outagamie, Waushara and Winnebago — hope to build on local public feedback to identify key issues with the Winnebago System.

“Usually a government entity comes up with a proposal and then you have to respond to it,” said Mike Lizotte, president of the Winnebago Lakes Council. “This way, we might go about identifying threats to the system, or just gather a public wish list.”

The group has an interactive Web portal designed to gather feedback with surveys and discussion boards at winnegabowaterways.com. So far, invasive species, algae blooms, water quality and boating fees have attracted the most attention.

A series of public meetings also will gather input from fishermen, boaters and others who use the system. The Appleton meeting is from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Atlas Coffee Mill, 425 W. Water St.

Lizotte said not all suggestions will result in expensive, publicly funded projects.

“I hope somebody has some brilliant idea that doesn’t cost a lot of money and we can use it as a way to work together,” Lizotte said. “The real benefit from this may come in working together and trusting each other in our mutual interests.”

Julie Schmelzer, director of resource management for Calumet County, said the project could lead to broader recognition of the 132,000-acre Lake Winnebago that supplies water to more than 250,000 residents.

“Locally, people view the lake as a good recreation source for fishing, but the water quality might have hurt other opportunities for swimming and other activity,” she said. “We have one of the largest inland lakes in the country and it could continue to bring us economic opportunities, but not if we don’t deal with water quality, invasive plants and blue green algae together.”

After the data-gathering, the team will filter through the material.

via ‘Winnebago Waterways’ aims at protecting lakes | The Oshkosh Northwestern | thenorthwestern.com.

Truck falls into crack on Lake Winnebago ice

By Boating Winnebago

Feb

21

OSHKOSH – The Oshkosh Fire Department was called to investigate a report of a truck through the ice on Lake Winnebago. It happened about 12 a.m. on Wednesday.

Officials say the truck went into an existing crack in the ice on Miller’s Bay at the end of Merritt Avenue in Oshkosh.

The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department says the truck was empty, and it appears the driver attempted to pull the truck out of the water.

Deputies say the driver abandoned the truck, and did not notify officials that the truck was in the water.

The truck was removed from the lake on Wednesday afternoon.

via Truck falls into crack on Lake Winnebago ice.

Sherwood man who died in Lake Winnebago is identified

By Boating Winnebago

Jan

21

SHERWOOD — The 42-year-old Sherwood man who died Saturday after his all-terrain vehicle sank in open water on Lake Winnebago has been identified as Chad E. Davis.

Calumet County Medical Examiner Michael Klaeser said the cause of death was accidental drowning.

Davis was driving his ATV on the ice of Lake Winnebago near the High Cliff State Park marina when he encountered a span of open water. Another ATV driver in front of him made it across the opening, but Davis did not.

The Calumet County Sheriff’s Department said Davis was under water for an hour before he was located and removed by the Calumet County Dive Team.

via Sherwood man who died in Lake Winnebago is identified | Green Bay Press Gazette | greenbaypressgazette.com.

Ice conditions leave fisherman stranded on Lake Winnebago

By Boating Winnebago

Jan

21

OSHKOSH — Rescuers used a Husky airboat Sunday to retrieve a fisherman who was stranded overnight on the ice of Lake Winnebago.

The fisherman, Ronald R. Derr, 47, of Oshkosh, was not injured in the ordeal.

A spokesman for the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department said Derr had gone to his shanty Saturday night and became stranded as high winds pushed apart the ice. At 7:45 a.m., a passer-by spotted Derr on the ice about a quarter mile offshore near the W. 24th Avenue boat landing. About 200 feet of open water was between the shore and Derr.

The sheriff’s department said high winds have created an impassable crack in the ice extending from Merritt Avenue to Black Wolf Point in the southern part of the county.

via Ice conditions leave fisherman stranded | Appleton Post-Crescent | postcrescent.com.

Lake Winnebago Ice Conditions

By Boating Winnebago

Jan

8

Monday’s incident on the Bay of Green Bay, where people were stuck on ice that separated from the shore, raises the question of how safe local ice is right now. It’s an important question as we get closer to the ice fishing and sturgeon spearing season.

Each year thousands of people flock to Lake Winnebago to take advantage of it in its frozen state. This year is no different. And with fairly cold temperatures recently the ice seems to be in pretty good shape.

“We have about five to eight inches on Lake Winnebago and there isn’t any open holes,” says ice expert Don Herman.

He adds, “We took snowmobile around the whole lake yesterday, so the lake looks actually in excellent condition, but with the warm weather coming that could change in a hurry.”

Those changes could come this week when temperatures are expected to be above freezing.

The warm-up, according to Herman, will definitely have an effect on the ice and delay any preparations for opening these gates to allow for heavy vehicle traffic on the lake. Those delays could linger into the season.

“Most of the events start at the beginning of February, and sturgeon spearing is a month away yet, but if we don’t get cold weather it can affect all of that.”

Even though conditions out on Lake Winnebago right now may be pretty good for foot, four-wheeler, and snowmobile traffic, the sheriff’s department warns ice is never 100% safe and those who venture out on it need to protect themselves.

Lt. Greg Cianciolo with the sheriff’s department says, “We just don’t see a lot of use of personal flotation devices in the winter, and certainly if somebody goes through the ice that is going to increase their odds of survival and their odds of being recovered quickly if they can stay afloat. So one of the things I always try to do is persuade people to wear a PFD even during the winter on the ice.”

Because with changing conditions, it’s always best to be safe.

via Lake Winnebago Ice Conditions – WBAY.

Firefighters to Hold Ice Safety Presentation

By Boating Winnebago

Jan

8

In Neenah, a free presentation will take place January 23rd at city hall.

As more people venture on to Lake Winnebago and other frozen bodies of water, Neenah-Menasha firefighters hope to have a captive audience for the ice safety presentation two-and-a-half weeks away.

The public forum will be a chance for people to ask questions.

Assistant Chief Mike Sipin said, “We’re going to be looking at ice conditions in general. We’re going to be looking at some of the statistics. I know the gentleman, the firefighter, who’s putting this together has some good video from a recent ice rescue that took place in California where just literally one person after another kept falling through the ice.”

The class is something Neenah-Menasha firefighters have never conducted before.

Instructors will review safety tips and also let the public view the equipment that’s used by firefighters to respond to an ice rescue.

“Just because you have ice that looks clear, which is always a good indication that it’s good ice, there really is no such thing as ‘good ice,’” said Sipin.

Last year the Neenah-Menasha Fire Department did not respond to a single legitimate ice rescue call. The department credits its educational effort warning people about unsafe conditions.

“I really believe that it was the marketing that we did as a department, as a community, to raise the level of awareness with people going on to the ice,” said Sipin.

The presentation on January 23rd starts at 6:30 at Neenah City Hall. There’s no cost.

It should last about an hour.

via Firefighters to Hold Ice Safety Presentation – WBAY.

Winnebago County enacts ordinance for unnecessary rescues

By Boating Winnebago

Dec

28

A risky winter tradition has begun

As more venture out onto the ice, those at the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office expect rescue calls to start rolling in.

“We don’t really condone anyone being out on the ice because the ice can never be deemed completely safe,” said Patrol Captain Todd Christie.

The DNR says the ice needs to be at least four inches thick to walk on, and it needs to be at least five inches thick to travel by snowmobile or ATV.

If you do unfortunately find yourself in the water this winter, the cost of the rescue could come out of your own pocket.

“Winnebago County enacted an ordinance for unnecessary rescues,” Christie explained. “If the average person would say the location you’re in, you’re out late at night and it’s deemed the average citizen wouldn’t have done that, and it’s an unnecessary rescue, and cost taxpayers money for law enforcement to respond, those costs can be reimbursed through this process and the individual rescued may have to pay.”

However if you do have to foot the bill, Christie says there is an appeal process.

Authorities warn people to check with the local fishing clubs about conditions, and then decide whether you should head out.