La Crosse County is considering granting $10,000 to help remove vegetation and create access channels on Lake Onalaska.
The Executive Committee approved the funding Wednesday morning, which would match funds already raised by advocates and help pay to clear sediment and aquatic vegetation that have bogged up channels and different areas of the lake.
According to the resolution, increased flowage from the Mississippi River and Lake Onalaska has increased the amount of sediment and nutrients entering the water.
This has caused an increase of filamentous algae, duck weed and other rooted aquatic vegetation, such as wild rice.
“Although vegetation is a source of food for wildlife, it also greatly impedes boat travel and traps more sediment, reducing overall water depth,” the resolution states.
“What we’ve been trying to do is provide access to the deeper water areas of the lake and the main channel boat landings and shore areas, and it’s been a real struggle,” said Fritz Funk, a member of the Lake Onalaska Protection and Rehabilitation District.
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The county’s funds would match those already raised by the group privately. Funk said they have a target of raising $20,000 on their own.
Burke
“The increased use of the lake makes access to it very important, and that’s what this $10,000 will guarantee — access for boaters, recreational use of the lake,” said former supervisor Vicki Burke. She serves on the lake district’s commission and lives along the lake.
These funds would come from a fund already earmarked for lake projects in this year’s budget.
The Executive Committee approved the funding unanimously and the full board will vote on it next week.
In Photos: The Great River Road in Wisconsin and Minnesota
A motorist drives along the Great River Road along I-90 north of La Crescent.
A view of the Mississippi River from I-90 along the Great River Road.
A view of the Mississippi River from I-90 along the Great River Road.
A view of the Mississippi River from Hwy. 61 along the Great River Road.
A boat is seen on the Mississippi River from Hwy. 61 north of La Crescent.
A sign for the Great River Road is seen along I-90 north of La Crescent.
A scenic overlook on the Great River Road along HWY 61 in Minn. offers a view of Perot State Park in Wis. across the Mississippi River.
A scenic overlook on the Great River Road along HWY 61 in Minn. offers a view of Perot State Park in Wis.
US Lock and Dam 8 in Genoa, Wis. is among the many landmarks that can be seen when traveling the Great River Road.
The vast expanse of the Upper Mississippi River is seen from a scenic outlook above Hwy. 35 north of Genoa.
The vast expanse of the Upper Mississippi River is seen from a scenic outlook above Hwy. 35 north of Genoa.
Bluffs tower over Hwy. 35 along the Great River Road on the outskirts of Stoddard, Wis.
Fisherman on the Mississippi River and bluffs in Minnesota beyond are seen from Hwy. 35 south of La Crosse on the Great River Road.
A sign marks the route for the Great River Road along Hwy. 35 in Stoddard, Wis.
Olivia Herken
Reporter
Olivia Herken is the local government reporter at the La Crosse Tribune and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism. She can be found on Twitter @oherken, and reached at 608-791-8217.
