MANAWA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – For months, water on the Manawa Mill Pond has been low — drastically lower than it once was.
Last year, Scott Cornwell purchased his retirement home, right along the Mill Pond.
“We absolutely loved it while it was here, and then we were right above it when we watched it breach the side of the dam there,” he said.
Cornwell told us there’s no question, the Mill Pond must return to its former glory. Not just for him, but for everyone who owns property along the water.
“Why would you want all this to go away? You know? This is definitely an investment for the town, just like any other waterway. You’re going to get improvement,” he said.
Down the road, Floyd Gerl used to fish on the pond. Gerl told FOX 11 he knows plenty of people who live along the water, and it’s been tough.
“If you’re a property owner, and you buy that property with the idea that you’re going to have some lakeshore, or water shore, I sympathize with those people,” he said. “They bought that land with the idea that it was going to be there. And now it’s not.”
Gerl is hoping city officials are making progress on restoration efforts since flash flooding back in July wiped out the dam.
We keep hearing different reports on what’s going on, the last one I heard is that just maybe there is some positive news about doing something about it. Preferably, I’m maybe being quite selfish, but I would like to see it back there again because I enjoy fishing. That’s the one thing I can do.
Manawa Mayor Mike Frazier said the city has been busy working on its restoration plans.
“It’s slow but sure, but we’ve all said, you know, we’re making a decision that is going to last for 100 years, and we have the opportunity to do it correctly and make sure it does last another 100 years,” he said.
Earlier this month, the City of Manawa Common Council approved proposals for the Mill Pond’s reconstruction.
The proposal also includes stabilizing a 310-foot section of shoreline on the Little Wolf River. The city will be submitting cost estimates for the next state budget cycle.
Gerl and Cornwell say they hope the city receives the necessary funding to begin their work.
“I’m willing to pay my share to get that dam put back in there again,” Gerl said.
Frazier said that engineers have estimated three to seven years for the dam to be fully restored.
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