About The Dam
The city council of Stoughton, WI are working to remove the 4th St. dam which will drastically affect the water levels of the Yahara river and bay.
Here are some facts you need to know:
The dam was rebuilt 2009, costing tax payers thousands, is still in excellent working condition and will remain that way for many years.
The annual kick off to Syttende Mai will lose it's traditioned canoe race.
Recreational uses along the river, dog park, and bay area will no longer be possible.
The wildlife, like the white pelicans and some endangered species like the Bald Eagles, will need to find a new home to migrate to because the Bay area will dry up to unusable marshland. See expert from the 6/16/20 Hub article.... A public commenter wanted to know what would happen to waterfowl if the water levels in the Yahara reduced, and the bay turned into a narrow channel. Paulios said certain birds would leave and others would come. “If it did decrease the amount of open water it would be replaced with a lot of emergent vegetation so you’d shift the system from a flat water, open water pelicans, swans, geese to more emergent marsh critters black birds.… not good or bad per se for a wildlife system, but just different. It would be different for the people obviously, but not for the critters as much,” Paulios said.
The City proposes a Whitewater rafting park that will cost more than 7.3 MILLION. They HOPE to use grant money rather than tax payer money but isn't grant money tax payer money? (Info collected from 5/18/20 subcommittee agenda attachment)
Grants have been denied for project but they continue to work to remove dam. What if they never obtain the grants?
Ask the city council for FULL transparency. Ask them to obtain all grants BEFORE destroying our traditions.
Join "Friends of Yahara Bay" Facebook page for more information.