2015 Lake Poygan Breakwall Preserving and Restoring Wisconsins

2015 Lake Poygan Breakwall Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands Bruce E. Lunde LUNDE WILLIAMS, LLC Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Project Location SITE Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Wolf River Discharges into Four Lakes • Poygan • Winneconne • Butte des Morts • Winnebago Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

History of Winnebago Lakes • Historic trading area for Native Americans • Early settlers developed logging and waterborne transport • Demand for controlled water elevations led to damming of Fox river (1850’s) Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Fox Riv er t o. G ree n. B ay Lake Winnebago Controls Menasha, WI Menasha Dam 6 Tainter Gates Neenah Dam 9 Needle Gates 5 Tainter Gates Lake Winnebago Neenah, WI Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Menasha Dam Tainter Gates Spillway Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Neenah Dam Spillway Tainter Gates Needle Gates Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Dam Impacts • Lake elevation raised 2. 5 -3’ • Upriver lakes transformed from marshy river to broad lakes • Increased log and barge transport capacity Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Environmental Impacts of Lake Change • Loss of Submerged and Emergent Plants • Loss of Habitat for Wildfowl • Loss of Habitat for Fish and Shelled Creatures • Increased Turbidity Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Environmental Impacts of Lake Change • Sago Pondweed • Wild Rice • Wild Celery • Canvasback Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Main Fish Species Decimated • Northern Pike • Bass • Yellow Perch • Several Varieties of Panfish Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Bog/Marsh Loss 1862 - 1961 Wetlands in 1862 Wetlands in 1961 Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Bog/Marsh Lost Since 1962 Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Problem Identified • WDNR recognized the problem decades ago, but had not determined the best method of mitigation • Water level management plan instituted in 1983 (Linde Plan) • 1989 Comprehensive Plan sponsored by WDNR documented issues associated with Lakes • 1991 EIS developed with WDNR identified breakwall approach to mitigating wave damage Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Project Approach for Lake Butte des Morts • Breakwall in Lake • Shoreline Stabilization • Nesting Islands Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Lake Butte des Morts Restoration Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Project Approach for Lake Butte des Morts • First Phase in 1993 • Second Phase 1998 • Topped with walking paths and connected with bridges 2012 • Successful installation of breakwalls and nesting islands Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Results for Lake Butte des Morts/ Lake Poygan efforts • To date, 27 separate breakwaters w/ six miles of protection • Reduces 4, 400 Tons sediment annually • Eliminates 6, 600 lbs. of phosphorous annually Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Results for Lake Butte des Morts/ Lake Poygan efforts (to date) • 753 acres of wetlands protected • 142 acres of wetlands restored Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Terrell’s Island Development Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Implementation of Structures Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Implementation of Structures Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Implementation of Structures Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Implementation of Structures Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Lake Poygan Investigations • Current project extension of earlier work • Cooperative venture proposed with WDNR and USACE • Initial geotechnical investigations reveal issues Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Lake Poygan Investigations • Initial investigations revealed poor lake bottom stability • Cooperative venture with WDNR and USACE moved forward slowly • Years of study, fear of failure kept project from proceeding Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Changes to Poygan at Mouth of Wolf River Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Lake Poygan • USACE left project in 2011 • WDNR decided to proceed; examined additional options • 2014 design restarted Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Lake Poygan Breakwall Location Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Lake Poygan Breakwall Phase I Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Lake Poygan Experiment • Minimize weight • Spread load • Utilize “best” lake bottom • Construct in phases Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Lake Poygan Construction • Bids arrived • Contract to be let • First phase winter 2015 -2016 Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands

Thank You Lake Poygan Breakwall – Preserving and Restoring Wisconsin’s Wetlands