Lake Winneconne Offshore Breakwall

Article submitted by Chad Casper, Director, Winnebago County Land and Water Conservation Department

The Stabenow Wetland is located in Winnebago County on the east shore of Lake Winneconne. Over 1,700 feet of wetland frontage was currently unprotected and experiencing a high rate of erosion threatening the remaining wetlands. Since 1941, the damage done by high water, waves and ice has resulted in an average lateral recession of around 2.5 ft. of wetland per year. This shoreline recession releases large amounts of sediment and nutrients into Lake Winneconne and results in increased turbidity and a loss of fish and wildlife habitat.

In order to address the wetland loss and erosion concerns, the Winnebago County Land & Water Conservation Dept (LWCD) worked with Allen & Valerie Stabenow on an offshore breakwall project. Three offshore breakwalls totaling 1,220 ft. were designed by the LWCD to protect the wetland frontage from future losses and to reestablish wetlands that have been lost over time.

In the winter of 2021, ice conditions allowed for a portion of the offshore breakwall project to be installed. Approximately 50% of the project (626 ft.) was completed before the ice conditions deteriorated and construction had to stop.

In the winter of 2022, the weather conditions allowed for the construction to begin again on the breakwall project with some minor design changes. The minor design changes were made to allow construction to begin on safe ice to support the equipment. The contractor was able to complete an additional 450 ft. of breakwall.

There is now a total of 1,076 ft. of completed breakwall installed that will prevent any further erosion from occurring. Behind the breakwall will also create a calm backwater resulting in a rapid expansion of residual native emergent and submergent aquatic macrophytes forming the basis for approximately 14.5 acres of newly created fish and wildlife habitat and improved water quality.

The Winnebago County LWCD plans to document any change in species composition and area of plant coverage at the Stabenow breakwall project post construction. Secchi disk readings help to document and monitor water clarity. The Winnebago County LWCD will also fly a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) to document the plant response by capturing video and pictures behind the Stabenow breakwall project. The WDNR will do fisheries monitoring surveys to evaluate fish abundance and population metrics.

This project was funded by the Winnebago County Water Quality Improvement Program, Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA), North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), Lake Poygan Sportsman’s Club and Allen & Valerie Stabenow.

Learn more about the Winnebago County LWCD and their projects on their website: CLICK HERE