The stretch of proposed dredging along the Yahara River is stirring debate in the Town of Dunn in Dane County.


THE TOWN OF DUNN, Wis. (WKOW) — The stretch of proposed dredging along the Yahara River is stirring debate in the Town of Dunn in Dane County. The project aims to dredge a 50-foot wide, 3-4 feet deep corridor between Mud Lake and Lake Kegonsa, a stretch that includes historically significant areas by the Lower Mud Lake Natural Resource Area.

The project began after significant flooding in 2018. Multiple phases of the plan are already complete, including dredging between Lake Monona and Lake Waubesa; Lake Waubesa and Mud Lake; and Lake Kegonsa to Highway B. Dredging for Dyreson Rd to Lake Kegonsa is in progress, and Lower Mud Lake to Dyreson Rd is under review by the DNR.

Proponents of the dredging project argue it is necessary to address flooding and improve water flow, particularly as urban development has increased runoff into the Yahara Lakes, resulting in increased sediment buildup.

“We have this compounding effect where we’re getting more rainfall and we have less areas for that rainfall to be absorbed in our watershed. And where does it go? It goes into our Yahara lakes, and that’s where we get a lot of widespread flooding,” said John Reimer, assistant director of the Dane County Land & Water Resources Department.

The project has sparked opposition from local residents and archaeologists concerned about its impact on historical sites. David Barton, an archaeologist, expressed concerns about the effects on a Native American fish weir, where people used boulders to channel fish and a pioneer dam from the 1840s.

“The Pioneer fish stand, or the Pioneer mill, the wooden mill is, is a really rare commodity. There aren’t very many of those around, and to have one that has not really been disturbed that much is really a big deal,” said Barton.

Barton emphasized the importance of preserving these historical resources, especially to the local community. “This is what I call participatory historic preservation. These are people that live in an area that say this is important. You need to preserve our resource. Don’t destroy it. Leave it alone,” said Barton. He acknowledged the benefits of dredging but urged that certain sites should be avoided. “It’s okay to dredge, just don’t dredge sensitive areas,” he said.

David Roye, the Lake Management Supervisor, highlighted that many modifications have already been made to the area by the Department of Natural Resources prior to the start of this project. “The rock structure has already been greatly modified by people to create navigation through that part of the river as part of the carp removal that happened at Fish Camp and the McFarland rough fish station in the 70s and 80s. So, it really has already been changed dramatically,” said Roye.

The discussion continues as the Town of Dunn weighs the benefits of flood mitigation against the preservation of its historical sites.