Sheldon Auto Wrecking, a longstanding salvage yard in southwestern Wisconsin’s Vernon County, is facing a potential threat to its existence. The dam known as “Maple Dale,” which has protected the yard from flooding for decades, may soon be dismantled.
Owned by Greg Sheldon, Sheldon Auto Wrecking has been a fixture in the local community for nearly 70 years. The salvage yard buys used vehicles and farm machinery to sell for parts, and the dam has been crucial in shielding its inventory from the ravages of frequent flooding in the area.
However, recent events have cast a shadow of uncertainty over the future of Maple Dale. In 2018, five similar dams in the region failed during a massive rainstorm, causing widespread property damage. A subsequent study revealed that several other dams, including Maple Dale, were at risk of failure but deemed too costly to repair or replace.
As a result, local officials are considering a plan to decommission the dams by cutting notches in them, allowing water to flow freely once again. This process, if approved, could mark the largest mass decommissioning of dams in a single county in the United States.
The potential removal of the dams in Vernon County is stirring up controversy among residents and stakeholders. While the dams have provided essential flood control over the years, concerns about their structural integrity and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events have prompted calls for action.
The dams in question were built under the USDA’s Watershed Programs, which aimed to control flooding in rural agricultural areas. However, with many of these dams reaching the end of their operational lifespan, decisions must be made about their future.
Steve Becker, Wisconsin’s state conservation engineer for NRCS, explained that the contracts for maintaining these dams are expiring, leaving counties to decide their fate. In the case of Vernon County, the recommendation to decommission the dams came after a thorough assessment of their viability and the potential risks they pose in the face of climate change.
For property owners like Garrick Olerud, treasurer of the Snowflake Ski Club in Westby, the prospect of losing the protection afforded by the dams is a cause for concern. The club has already experienced significant flood damage in the past and fears that removing the dams could lead to even greater challenges in the future.
As Vernon County grapples with the decision to decommission the dams, it serves as a microcosm of a larger issue facing communities across the country. Aging infrastructure, urban development, and the impacts of climate change are putting pressure on dam owners to confront difficult choices about the future of these structures.
For Greg Sheldon and other stakeholders in Vernon County, the potential loss of Maple Dale and other dams represents not just a physical change to the landscape but a symbol of a shifting paradigm in how we manage water resources and protect our communities from natural disasters. As the debate continues, the fate of these dams hangs in the balance, with far-reaching implications for the local ecosystem and economy. The recent debate over the future of dams in Vernon County, Wisconsin, highlights the pressing issue of aging dam infrastructure and the challenges posed by climate change. The county board’s decision to accept federal funding for decommissioning reflects a growing recognition of the risks associated with failing dams.
The concerns raised by Frank Easterday and others about the potential for catastrophic failures during storms underscore the urgent need for action. The recent partial failure of the Rapidan dam in Minnesota served as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities of our nation’s dams, many of which are over 60 years old.
Climate change is exacerbating these risks, with increased precipitation and more intense rainfalls putting additional pressure on aging infrastructure. The combination of these factors has created a “perfect storm” of problems, as highlighted by retired engineer Larry Caldwell in a memo warning of the potential crisis facing communities.
The high cost of rehabilitating dams further complicates the situation, with estimates reaching $157.5 billion for nonfederal dams alone. While the bipartisan infrastructure law provided some funding for dam safety, more resources are clearly needed to address the scale of the problem.
In Vernon County and beyond, decisions about the future of dams will require careful consideration of the costs and benefits. The decommissioning of dams like the Mlsna Dam in Wisconsin may be a viable option in some cases, especially if the financial burden of rehabilitation is too great.
Ultimately, the challenge of ensuring the safety and reliability of our nation’s dams will require a concerted effort from policymakers, engineers, and communities. By addressing the underlying issues of aging infrastructure and climate change, we can work towards a more sustainable future for our dam systems. Flooding is becoming an increasingly pressing issue in many communities, with dams struggling to cope with the rising water levels. According to experts like Spragens, the situation is only going to worsen, leading to more dams being under stress or even failing in the future. This has prompted a call for urgent progress to be made in finding solutions to mitigate the impact of flooding.
One potential approach gaining traction is the use of natural solutions to reduce floodwaters’ impact, as opposed to solely relying on built infrastructure. By moving away from flood-prone areas and adopting farming practices that help retain water in the land, communities can better manage floodwaters and reduce the risk of catastrophic events.
In Vernon County, the community is already taking steps to address the challenges posed by flooding. County conservationist Ben Wojahn highlighted the need to consider both the decommissioning and retention of dams as part of a larger strategy to tackle flooding. He emphasized that simply keeping or removing dams would not be enough to address the complex issue of flooding in the community.
This shift towards natural solutions and holistic approaches to flood management reflects a growing recognition of the need for sustainable and resilient strategies in the face of climate change. As communities like Vernon County grapple with the impacts of flooding, it is clear that a multi-faceted and collaborative approach is essential to safeguarding against future risks.
This article is a product of the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk, an independent reporting network based at the University of Missouri in partnership with Report for America, with major funding from the Walton Family Foundation. The world of technology is constantly evolving and advancing, with new innovations and developments being made every day. One such advancement that has been making waves in recent years is the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. AI has the potential to revolutionize industries, improve efficiency, and enhance the way we live and work.
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