La Crosse, Monroe, and Vernon Counties, WI, in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (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 (Project History). Before the Counties act 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 a watershed planning process. The primary purpose for planning is Flood Prevention or flood damage reduction. Subsidiary purposes of planning are Watershed Protection to reduce excessive runoff, erosion, sediment, and agriculture-related pollutants in the watershed; 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 forth so that the Counties can pursue an efficient analysis of alternative plans for future flood prevention and flood damage reduction measures.