News & Meetings
The sponsor counties and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) have agreed upon a Public Participation Plan that includes posting all project news and meeting notifications. The same information published in local newspapers and distributed on county website and Facebook pages will be posted here.
Wisconsin Watershed Plan Coon Creek and West Fork Kickapoo PEIS Tentative Planning Schedule
Most Recent Posting
WATERSHED PLANNING MeetinG
January 27, 2022
West Fork Kickapoo &
Coon Creek
12:00pm MST/1:00pm CST
Meeting held virtually
MEETING OF COOPERATING AGENCIES
A virtual joint meeting for the West Fork Kickapoo and Coon Creek Watersheds occurred on January 27, 2022, with associated cooperating agencies.
The purpose for the virtual meeting was to discuss what dam decommissioning would entail and to determine agency and stakeholder concurrence on a path forward. Agencies, stakeholders, and Tribes received an invitation to attend, ask questions, and come to a consensus regarding the course of action. Primary alternatives discussed included:
(1) Remove part of a dam to create a “notch” able to withstand the pressure of 100-year storms.
(2) Completely remove dams and restore the natural floodplain.
The ultimate consensus determined by attendees is to pursue the “notched” dam alternative as the preferred alternative.
Follow this link for a list of meeting attendees, questions, and comments.
Follow this link to view the Dam Decommissioning presentation.
Previous Postings
Public scoping Meeting - June 2021
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD EXTENDED TO JULY 30, 2021
June 22, 2021
West Fork Kickapoo
5:30pm at the
Cashton Community Hall, 812 Main St., Cashton
June 23, 2021
Coon Creek
5:30pm at the Coon Valley American Legion Hall,
105 Park St., Coon Valley
PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE La Crosse, Monroe, and Vernon Counties, WI, in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), are preparing watershed plans and environmental impact statements (EIS) for both the Coon Creek and West Fork Kickapoo watersheds to address flooding and the failed flood control dams. Alternatives include dam decommissioning, replacement of the dams, conservation practices in the upper watershed to reduce runoff, and improvements downstream of the dams to reduce flooding or mitigate flood damages. Information gathered from agencies, interested parties, and the public on a range of possible alternatives will aid in refining the alternatives, identifying potential environmental issues, and selection of a preferred alternative.
Information regarding the proposed alternatives will be available on the project website at least one week prior to the first meeting, www.wfkandccwatersheds.com. If you would like mapping in hard copy format, please contact Keri Hill, Project Manager, at the contact below.
The West Fork Kickapoo Watershed meeting will be held on June 22nd at the Cashton Community Hall, 812 Main Street, Cashton, WI at 5:30pm.
The Coon Creek Watershed meetings will be held on June 23rd at the Coon Valley Legion Hall, 105 Park St, Coon Valley, WI, at 5:30pm.
The meeting will follow current COVID-19 guidelines. As of the publication of this notice, COVID-19 restrictions will include face masks and limited seating. Chairs will be spaced every six feet. Only one representative from each household should attend in-person. Remote viewing of the live presentation will be available through Microsoft Teams; visit the project website at www.wfkandccwatersheds.com for the web link and instructions.
Written comments will be accepted through 7/30/21 and recorded in the public record. Written comments can be (i) presented at the meetings, (ii) submitted through Microsoft Teams during the meetings, (iii) submitted on the project website, (iv) emailed to khill@sundance-inc.net, or (v) mailed to Sundance Consulting, 305 N. 3rd Ave, Ste B, Pocatello, ID 83201. Verbal comments may be left via voicemail at (208)550-2056.
Services for persons with disabilities will be made available if notice is received in advance of the meeting by calling or emailing Keri Hill at (208)550-2056, khill@sundance-inc.net. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
Public Scoping Comment Period extended
Public scoping comments will be accepted through Friday, 10/16/20.
Comments will continue to be received through the methods described at the bottom of this website. Click here for instructions on submitting a comment.
Public scoping Meeting - September 2020
PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE
La Crosse, Monroe, and Vernon Counties, WI, in partnership with the NRCS, are hosting public scoping meetings in the Coon Creek Watershed and West Fork Kickapoo Watershed to gather input from watershed stakeholders on issues related to flooding and the existing flood control dams.
The need for watershed planning arises from the failure of five flood control dams during a heavy storm on August 27-28, 2018. Before the Counties take action on major repairs, replacement, relocation, or removal of failed dams, they need to evaluate the environmental, economic, and social impacts of the original watershed projects implemented between 1958 and 1971.
These public scoping meetings are part of the watershed planning process. The primary purpose for planning is Flood Prevention or flood damage reduction. Subsidiary topics of planning are Watershed Protection to reduce excessive runoff, erosion, sediment, and agriculture-related pollutants in the watershed; Public Fish and Wildlife to improve riparian habitats or the environment for breeding, growth, and development of fish and wildlife; and Public Recreation to develop reservoir(s) or other areas for public health, safety, and access.
The goal of these public scoping meetings is to ensure that all problems, opportunities, historical studies, and current developments in these watersheds are brought to the public’s attention so that the Counties can pursue an efficient analysis of alternative plans for future flood prevention and flood damage reduction measures.
Join remotely during any meeting time with Microsoft Teams or
join by phone 208-996-1719 and enter code 550 594 736#
COVID-19 restrictions will include face masks and limited seating. Chairs will be spaced every six feet. Only one representative from each household/group should attend in-person. Remote viewing of the live presentation will be available through the above Microsoft Teams link.