Eureka lock between Omro and Berlin, may reopen

By Boating Winnebago

Feb

27

EUREKA – Boaters may soon have greater access across Northeast Wisconsin.

Plans call for the Eureka lock on the Fox River in Winnebago County to reopen. The lock is located northeast of Berlin. It would open up boating traffic through Lake Butte des Morts into Lake Winnebago.

The Berlin Boat Club says it’s received half the money it needs to restore the lock. A private donor has given $150,000 and the boat club needs to raise the other $150,000.

Boat club leaders say reopening the lock would be a big deal for boaters.

“You theoretically would be able to gain navigational access to Green Bay and the Great Lakes and beyond,” club president Mike McMonigal said. “So it’s really an instrumental moment for Berlin to be able to again be on the world navigation map.”

McMonigal says while construction may take all summer, he hopes the lock is open by the Fourth of July.

via Eureka lock may reopen.

One year ago today BoatingWinnebago.com was born!

By Boating Winnebago

Feb

24

One year ago today, the domain BoatingWinnebago.com was registered!

It’s been a great year, and I’d like to give a sincere thank you to everyone that has helped make this website successful during it’s first year.  That includes everyone that has helped with sponsorship, content, stickers, spreading the word and and contributing to the forums.

I want to encourage everyone to continue to help in any way you can.  Remember, this site doesn’t generate a single dime of income.  We don’t charge anything for sponsorship or advertising on the site.  If you are, or know of anyone that would like free advertising here, please send them our way.  More info and a contact form can be found here:  http://www.boatingwinnebago.com/contact/

Its coming to the time of year when we will once again be pulling the boats out and getting them cleaned up for the season.  Not long now!!!

Just a quick reminder that the Ice Out pool voting ends in just a couple days….so if you haven’t voted yet, get on it!

http://www.boatingwinnebago.com/forums/general-boating/2nd-annual-officially-official-boating-on-lake-winnebago-ice-out-pool-for-2011/

Thanks everyone, I sincerely mean that!

Plan to replace bridge aims to minimize impact on boaters, train traffic construction

By Boating Winnebago

Feb

22

A plan to replace the Canadian National rail bridge over the Fox River aims to minimize the impact on boaters and train traffic through the Oshkosh area during a three-year construction period.

It could also reduce the time motorists have to wait at east side railroad crossings, too.

Canadian National spokesman Patrick Waldron said trains have to slow down to 25 miles-per-hour to cross the 112-year-old bridge due to its age and condition. Waldron said the railroad’s goal would be to move trains through Oshkosh at 40 miles-per-hour once a new lift bridge is completed 40 feet east of the existing swing bridge.

“It’s at the end of its useful life,” Waldron said. “It’s time to replace it. And faster train movements will mean reduced traffic congestion at road crossings, a more reliable lift crossing for boaters and more efficient train movements for our customers.”

Oshkosh City Manager Mark Rohloff said the condition of the bridge could force trains to go as slow as 10 miles-per-hour through the city if the company doesn’t get its plans approved by the city, U.S. Coast Guard and state agencies.

“I have gotten complaints that the trains take too long because they’re longer. The reality is they’re going slower,” Rohloff said. “And going 10mph through the city would be agonizing for traffic. It’s our obligation to get them up to a safe speed that gets them up to a more rapid travel speed.”

To do that, while keeping boating lanes and rail lines open, will take the better part of three years, according to timelines CN officials have shared with city engineers.

“It’s a significant capital investment,” Waldron said.

The plans call for the construction of a lift bridge with a massive counterweight that raises a 125-foot span into the air to allow boaters to pass through. Construction of the foundation would begin sometime this fall, followed by utility replacement in the spring of 2012 before actual construction of the new bridge begins. Final work and changing train traffic over to the new bridge would occur in early 2013.

Plan to replace bridge aims to minimize impact on boaters, train traffic construction | The Oshkosh Northwestern | thenorthwestern.com.

Fox Valley residents dig out from latest snow storm

By Boating Winnebago

Feb

22

See the forums as to why this news article made it to the front page of BoatingWinnebago.com.

Fox Valley residents, like those throughout much of the Midwest, spent most of Monday digging out from a weekend storm that dumped more than a foot of snow in many places.

With snowfall expected to wind down on Monday night with an inch or two expected in the Appleton area, things should settle down a bit.

On Wednesday night, there’s a chance of light snow or freezing rain, according to Jim Skowronski, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, Green Bay.

“Other than that, it looks like we’ll have temperatures probably a little bit below normal for the next few days,” he said.

In Appleton, snowplow crews were on duty again Monday night. Some city residents didn’t get their streets plowed until after 11 a.m. Monday.

Appleton officials converted the city’s snow emergency from Class III to Class I, effective 6 a.m. today.

A Class III emergency restricts parking on all city streets 24 hours per day. Vehicles found in violation may be ticketed and towed. A Class I emergency prohibits parking on all city streets between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., but allows parking the rest of the time. The Class I emergency is in effect until further notice.

The storm dumped 13.5 inches of snow in Waupaca and Wautoma, 12.6 inches in Darboy and 11.8 inches in Appleton.

Scott Cultice, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Green Bay, said Appleton received 8.5 inches of snow on Sunday in the 24-hour period from midnight to midnight, smashing the previous record for Feb. 20 of 3.3 inches set back in 1945. The record for a single-day storm for any day in February is 9 inches, set on Feb. 5, 1908.

Most schools in the Fox Cities were closed Monday as municipal crews fought to keep roads clear of drifting snow.

Locally, law enforcement agencies reported dozens of weather-related traffic mishaps, mostly vehicles in the ditch and minor crashes.

One of the more serious crashes occurred early Monday when a semitrailer truck tipped over on U.S. 41 near Richmond Street. The highway was partially blocked.

Winnebago County authorities reported the southbound lanes of 41 were closed Monday morning after a semitrailer jackknifed about 7:45 a.m. near State 44.

The State Patrol declared a no-tow emergency rule, meaning vehicles in ditches could not be towed until road conditions improved.

Elsewhere in the Midwest, 19 inches of snow fell at Madison in western Minnesota, while the Minneapolis suburbs of Eden Prairie and Bloomington got 17 and 16 inches, respectively.

Minneapolis declared a snow emergency on Monday, joining St. Paul and many other cities in the southern half of Minnesota that declared them a day earlier. It was the eighth snow emergency of the season for Minneapolis, which officials said was the most it has ever declared in a single winter.

Ice downed power lines in Michigan and Ohio, leaving tens of thousands of people without electricity for at least parts of Monday. Hundreds of flights were canceled at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

Fox Valley residents dig out from latest snow storm | postcrescent.com | Appleton Post Crescent.

Gradual snow melt expected with mid-February thaw

By Boating Winnebago

Feb

14

It’s feeling a lot like spring in Oshkosh.

Unseasonably warm temperatures are forecast to continue the rest of the week causing a gradual snow melt for the most part, said Scott Cultice, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Green Bay.

He said Thursday could reach 50 in Oshkosh, while daytime temperatures the rest of the week should be in the upper 30s to lower 40s. The normal high is 27. The overnight lows are expected to be in the low to mid 30s Tuesday through Friday. The normal low is 8.

“The remainder of the week will be above freezing, so that is nice to see,” Cultice said.

He said scattered showers are possible Wednesday night through Friday, which will also help melt the snow.

Ron Bruch, sturgeon biologist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in Oshkosh, said unseasonably warm temperatures will impact the sturgeon spearing season underway on Lake Winnebago and the upriver lakes of Poygan, Winneconne and Butte des Morts.

Bruch said landings used by vehicles to get on and off the ice will deteriorate with warmer temperatures and from water running off the shorelines. He said if there are windy conditions that could cause existing cracks to begin moving.

“There will be tricky travel conditions that will more than likely result in a longer season because they won’t be able to travel as easily to locations where they want to spear and that will cut down on the daily harvest,” Bruch said.

Gradual snow melt expected with mid-February thaw | thenorthwestern.com | Oshkosh Northwestern.

Your invited to help the Fox River Navigational System Authority set it’s hours of operation for 2011!

By Boating Winnebago

Feb

9

I’ve attached a letter  in .pdf format that you can print and mail in.  Get the letter by clicking the link below.  You can also send them an email or call the contact info is at the bottom of the post.  The text of that letter has been copied and pasted into this message.  Please help them help you this boating season.

Appleton-Cedars Locks 2011 Survey

The Fox River Navigational System Authority is developing the lock operation schedule for the coming season and is considering expanding operations to include the four Appleton Locks and/or the Cedars Lock. (This is in addition to the Menasha, De Pere, and Little Rapids locks.)

1. We are interested in knowing if you would consider using the 4 Appleton locks and/or the Cedars lock this summer? If so, please indicate lock or locks:

Appleton  #1 – #2 – #3 – #4  – Cedars – All locks

2. If so, when might you use them?

If a Holiday, which Holiday(s)?  (Holiday[s] & time[s] planning to use?)

If a weekend(s)?  (How many weekends/day[s] & time[s] planning to use?)

If a week day(s)?  (How many days & time of day planning to use?)

3. We are also interested in knowing if you would consider using a temporary dock in downtown Appleton and/or Little Chute to be able to tie up and visit nearby attractions?  Appleton – Little Chute – Both locations

4. And finally, we are interested in knowing if you would consider using over-night tie-ups at these docking locations and/or Appleton and/or Cedars locks?

Appleton – Little Chute – Both locations

5. Any other concerns or suggestions? (There will be Navigation Buoys)

Thank you for your support and assistance in getting answers to the above questions.

Their email is:  lock269735@sbcglobal.net
Their phone is:  920-759-9833

Their mail address is:

FRNSA
1008 Augustine Street
Kaukauna, WI 54130

Please let them know what you think by February 16!

Walk Across Lake Winnebago 2011 – Feb 5, 2011

By Boating Winnebago

Feb

5

BIGGER and BETTER opportunities this year!

http://walkthelake.weebly.com/uploads/5/3/7/2/5372824/3246662.jpgThis year’s walk will be held on Saturday, February 5th, 2011.

We are walking to raise money for The Neenah Animal Shelter

Cost: $20
$10 towards The Neenah Animal Shelter
$10 towards a remembrance item from the walk

Time: 11:30-departing Schafer Electic/Mikee’s
12PM- Everyone walking is to be at Bobber’s in Hilbert
5204 Faro Springs Road
Hilbert, WI 54129
12:30- The walk will begin

We are walking to a landing on Payne’s Point Road this year and will be going to Mikee’s Paynes Point Bar for fun, food, and dancing!

via Walk Across Lake Winnebago 2011 – Home.