News & Reports

Sportsman’s Landing Now Open for Public Use

Sportsman’s Landing is now open for public use. The construction company has pulled out the road barricades and construction is mostly done for the season. Landscaping work and road paving will be completed next spring. The road is a little rough but at least access is available for winter activities. Thanks to all of your members for their patience during construction and as always, if you have any questions please let me know.

We are committed to service excellence.
Visit our survey at http://dnr.wi.gov/customersurvey to evaluate how I did.

Brett Bockhop
Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area
Bureau of Parks and Recreation Management
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
5291N State House Circle
Mercer, WI 54547
Phone: 715-476-7846
Brett.Bockhop@wisconsin.gov

TFF Water Level Graphs 2018

The 2018 open water season on the flowage will be remembered for its late start but also for the higher than average water levels throughout. The 2018 flowage water levels exceeded the prior year levels and our desired minimum targeted levels from July 1 st through October 31 st .

We started the season with a very high regional water table level which the summer and fall rains perpetuated, insuring ample water for recreational use. Here’s hoping that we carry the high water tables into spring 2019. A thanks to Mother Nature for providing the requisite precipitation and to Xcel Energy for the balancing act required to manage the flowage during a challenging weather year.

2018 TFF Elevation Year Summary (133KB)

Turtle Flambeau Flowage Docks & Dike 10 Project Update

Docks

The Turtle Flambeau Flowage Docks are scheduled to be taken out of the water sometime between October 22nd and October 31st. As you know our docks have suffered some damage from the ice the last couple of years. We have been working with the Northern Highland American Legion State Forest boat dock crew to repair and upgrade our docks. That crew will now be taking all of our docks completely out of the water each fall to prevent future ice damage. The boat dock crew is very experienced and has the manpower and equipment to take care of over 100 docks in Oneida, Vilas and Iron counties. What that means for us is that our docks will probably come out of the water a little earlier in the fall and go in a little later in the spring, but in the end we will have better docks for the public to use.

Dike 10 Update

Permits
All permits are in place. Ross Peterson is performing inspections of erosion control measures as required by storm water permits.

Easements and Legal Agreements
Easements and legal agreements are in place with the Wisconsin DNR, Town of Mercer, and Town of Sherman.

Construction
The Town of Mercer is in the process of bidding the paving. Bids were due Thursday, October 4. I have not heard results. At this point, it seems unlikely the pavement will be placed in 2018.

Ross Peterson construction has mobilized, installed erosion control, and cleared trees for the project. Removal of most of the surface soils was complete on Wednesday. Ross Peterson sampled the proposed fill material at their pit and tested the gradation. Laboratory testing confirmed that the material meets the project specifications. Material has been delivered to the site and placement of earth fill commenced on Thursday where the subgrade was dry and firm. Due to recent rains, the subgrade is wet in the lower parts of the project and will need to drain and dry out.

Ross Peterson still expects to finish constructing the embankment by the end of October, barring significant inclement weather. Rain is in the forecast most days through next Wednesday.

Road and Boat Ramp Closures
The boat ramps remain closed. There are barricades and signs to warn traffic of the construction. One lane remains open for local traffic, dam operator/attendant, emergency vehicles, and DNR access. Ross Peterson has begun removing asphalt pavement, but the base course will remain to accommodate local traffic.

We are committed to service excellence.
Visit our survey at http://dnr.wi.gov/customersurvey to evaluate how I did.

Dike 10 Construction Project Started

Work on dike 10 finally started last week. Here is an update from Excel Energy. Let me know if you have any questions.

Permits

All permits are in place. We provided permits to Ross Peterson Construction and discussed requirements. Xcel personnel placed signs demarcating wetland areas at silt fence as a reminder to the contractor (see photo).

Easements and Legal Agreements

Easements and legal agreements are in place with the Wisconsin DNR, Town of Mercer, and Town of Sherman.

Bidding and Construction

The Town of Mercer is in the process of bidding the paving. Town legal counsel advised the Town that they are required to bid this portion of the work as it is a public works project. At this point, it seems unlikely the pavement will be placed in 2010.

Ross Peterson construction has mobilized, installed erosion control, and is clearing trees on the south side of the road. We dug a shallow test pit on the south side of the road across from the boat ramp entrance to determine depth to and composition of foundation material under wetland soils. We found a fine sand that appears to be suitable for a foundation.

Ross Peterson expects to finish clearing next week and will then start removing organic surface soils under the footprint of the new dike. Xcel Energy and Ayres Associates personnel will visit the site when the foundation is exposed prior to placement of any embankment fill. We anticipate this will happen around the middle of next week (tentatively Wednesday).

Road and Boat Ramp Closures

The boat ramps remain closed. There are barricades and signs to warn traffic of the construction. One lane remains open for local traffic, dam operator/attendant, emergency vehicles, and DNR access.