ROTHSCHILD, WI (WSAU-WAOW) – The Lake Wausau drawdown project at Domtar Paper in Rothschild is underway, despite complaints from duck hunters.
Domtar officials say the drawdown is for essential repairs they need to make to the Rothschild Dam that is controlled by the company. The company’s government relations manager, Craig Timm, spoke with WAOW Newsline 9 about the project.”They did find that over the years, because of weather and ice and all the related things, they’re starting to see some deterioration of the concrete on the dam structure itself.” Timm said.
“They did find that over the years, because of weather and ice and all the related things, they’re starting to see some deterioration of the concrete on the dam structure itself,” Timm said.
The lake will by lowered by five feet so Domtar can make the repairs. This could disrupt the duck hunting season on the lake, which caused hunters to try and argue for a spring placement of the drawdown. Proponents for the fall timing said that it would impact the environment too much for wildlife in the lake.
Timm said they will start at four inches per day. However, that could fluctuate depending on the weather in the next couple of weeks.
He said, “Because of the lateness of the year and the potential for weather and other types of potential delays, we do have the flexibility to adjust that as we need to.”
The plan is to have repairs completed and start refilling the lake by November 15th.
Interview by Daniel Keith, WAOW Newsline 9.
