The Fox River Navigational System Authority has approved an agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regarding the Menasha Lock. The lock has been closed for over a decade due to the presence of an invasive species of fish, the round goby, below the Neenah Dam.

Agreement Details

Per the agreement, the Wisconsin DNR will apply rotenone, a fish toxicant, to prevent the spread of round gobies into the Winnebago system while commercial boats move through the Menasha Lock. The DNR previously used this tactic from 2015 to 2024.

According to Phil Ramlet, Fox Locks Executive Director, the agreement formalizes the process and provides a mechanism for reimbursement of associated costs. Ashley Dooley, a representative from the Wisconsin DNR, stated that the agreement is necessary to help the DNR get reimbursement for the cost of treatment, as the DNR no longer has the funding to assist in this matter.

Reopening the Lock

The agreement does not include language about reopening the lock for recreational boaters. However, the FRNSA says opening the lock is a top priority. Ramlet believes that close coordination between the Fox Locks, the Department of Administration, and the DNR is necessary to reopen the lock, and that this process will take place over the next year.

Before the lock can be reopened, several factors need to be considered, including the safety of people on the trail and the boating public. Ramlet estimates that 100 to 120 people per hour cross the bridge in front of the lock, and that close coordination will be necessary to ensure a smooth reopening.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.