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News Release Issued: February 14, 2008 |
Wisconsin Valley Improvement
Company 2301 North
Third Street Wausau,
WI 54403 For more
information contact Dave Coon Phone:
715.848.2976, ext 311 Email:
coon@wvic.com |
EAU PLEINE
RESERVOIR AERATOR STARTED
UNSAFE ICE AND OPEN
WATER WARNING ISSUED
Marathon County Park Department personnel will begin
operation of an aerator in the Eau Pleine Reservoir on Tuesday, February 19,
2008, according to Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company (WVIC), Wausau. The Eau Pleine is a 7,000-acre storage
reservoir located in southwest Marathon County.
The aerator is located in a narrow stretch of the reservoir adjacent to
the Big Eau Pleine County Park.
With the start of the aerator comes public notice to
fishermen, snowmobilers and others traveling on the ice that aerator operation
creates unsafe ice conditions and open water. Park Department personnel have installed rope
barriers set off with flags and reflective signs across the entrances to the
area to warn of the danger. Warnings
have also been posted at the boat landings.
Aerators
maintain oxygen levels
The aerator is put into operation to help maintain
adequate oxygen levels in the water for the fishery. The start of aerator operation is timed to
take advantage of favorable dissolved oxygen (DO) levels and to help maintain
them.
WVIC monitoring shows that oxygen levels are decreasing
from the middle of the reservoir to near the dam. The deep snowpack is blocking
out light needed by algae to produce oxygen within the reservoir.
The level of the water in the Eau Pleine on February 14
was 15 feet below maximum. The water level
will continue to decrease until runoff begins to significantly refill the
reservoir.
-End
of Release-