The Director of Manitowoc County Emergency Management says lake level trends are measured over the course of a 5-to-10-year period. Travis Waack says that Lake Michigan water levels are “historically-high” right now.
“We do use some mapping and modeling software in my office where we can look at what would happen if the lake continues to go up another foot or another 2 feet or 3 feet. In Manitowoc County, we’re looking at a lot of those erosion issues. There are a few homes that could see some limited flooding potential. A lot of it is erosion that we have been observing along Memorial Drive and down by the UW beaches.”
Waack points out “in a lot of ways there’s not a whole lot that can be done about it. It’s more than just how much rain we get here in Manitowoc. It’s how much rain they get over a four, five-state area that drains into the Great Lakes. It’s just one of those really long term things that if there are specific issues that the Army Corps. has offered to reach out and provide engineering advice, if it is needed.”
He added, “They haven’t seen too much need for it around here, yet.” Waack explained, “we’re certainly in a better position than some other places in northeast Wisconsin, including the north side of Green Bay and the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary.”
The local emergency management spokesman says it’s also a difficult thing to predict. “The lake is going to do what it’s going to do and a lot of times you have to let mother nature run its course and keep your eye on it.”
