Lots of rain in and around Phelps WI this Spring and we are now in a 500 year flood. The worst of it seems to be in Conover at Pioneer Lake. North and South Twin Lakes flows thru a dam into Pioneer Lake that has no outlet. From what I have seen piers are under a foot of water and the shoreline of Pioneer is flooded. Both North and South Twin lakes are huge lakes Pioneer not very big. Idk how all this will turn out just about rains every day and no hot weather on the way soon. Crying shame we didn't have this moisture in January and February as would have been an epic snowfall.
500 Year Flood In Vilas
- Thread starter whitedust
- Start date
Interesting. My maps show an outlet on the South end of Pioneer Lake (Pioneer Creek) which flows into the Wisconsin River about a mile West of Conover. I would guess that the power company has a dam somewhere along that stretch, but I could be wrong. Not far downstream, the outlet of Lower Buckatabon Lake also flows into the Wisconsin River via dam. I spent a lot of time on Lower Buckatabon Lake when I was younger as my grandparents lived there for many years. The purpose of these dams is to control the water level on the Wisconsin River for power generation and flood control downstream. I wonder if they are holding water back or just over maxed right now. The water level where I live now (connected to Lake Superior) is also high and predicted to be about a foot higher by fall, about at the top of my dock. We'll see.
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There was some legal BS about dumping water from the Twins to Pioneer at the S Twin dam something to do with the Feds and the dam. NBC said no outlet for Pioneer. I need to ask Twin lakes owners if their water is that high I'm not sure they want to be dumping the amount of water that is currently being dumped from the dam as water levels in the Twins has been soso over the last few years. One thing for sure Pioneer can't handle the amount of water being dumped on them. I also heard that Eagle River Chain Lake owners can't get their boats off lifts they are set as high as possible and when floated boats are hitting canopy tops. There are adjustments to raise canopy tops but total PITA. Raining again today.... Spectacle Lake where I live is high but we have inlet and outlet so not so bad just high right now and everyone on last high water adjustments for piers and lifts. Once you have a foot of water or more over a pier like on Pioneer there is no way you can lift them just too heavy to budge.
I have no clue what NBC is talking about, but North and South Twin Lakes are part of the Wisconsin River natural reservoir system so it stands to reason that the water discharge from those lakes goes into the Wisconsin River, and I would assume that would be through Pioneer Lake. I also don't know how long you have lived in Vilas County, but in 2009 the water levels were so low (some lakes down 7 feet) that people were complaining about that. One thing for certain, is that we all (myself included) tend to think of things in the short term because our lives are so short in the geologic time scale. People buy property (or snow machines) thinking that things for the next ten years are going to be exactly the same as they were for the last ten years, oftentimes without doing adequate historical research, and then they complain that things don't go the way they planned. Another lesson is that when you are on a water system, your situation is intertwined with that of many others (like on the Wisconsin River system). There are many thousands of people, jobs, industries, and property downstream that are potentially affected. it's not just about the personal interests or inconveniences of a few land owners and their jet ski docks who may or may not have built wisely. I hope for the best for all, but our ever changing environment is not for the faint of heart.
"The preacher man says it's the end of time And the Mississippi River she's a goin' dry..." Hank Williams Jr.
From the Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company:
"Natural-Lake Reservoirs
The system was initiated in 1907 and 1908 with the acquisition of 16 existing logging dams. These dams are all located at the outlets of natural lakes on streams that are tributary to the Wisconsin River, except for Lac Vieux Desert which is located at the outlet of a natural lake that is the origin of the Wisconsin River. The dams raised the levels of the associated natural lakes by several feet and were used in the late 1800s for transporting logs to downstream industrial facilities. This was done by storing water in the lakes and then opening the dam to cause a large artificial rise in river flow, generally at the same time natural flooding was already occurring, that would then float logs stored in the lakes to downstream markets. When WVIC acquired these dams the operation pattern was changed so that the storage and release of water from the lakes could be used to achieve more uniform downstream river flow. This operation is exactly opposite of that used for logging purposes. These reservoirs are known as natural-lake reservoirs."
Interesting bit of history. It seems that the dams like the ones on North and South Twin Lakes were originally used to create or enhance flooding to move logs downstream. From what I can gather, it is correct that Pioneer Lake does not have a water control structure (dam) to regulate water level. Rather it drains naturally, unfortunately rather slowly, through Pioneer Creek and on to the Wisconsin River.
From the Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company:
"Natural-Lake Reservoirs
The system was initiated in 1907 and 1908 with the acquisition of 16 existing logging dams. These dams are all located at the outlets of natural lakes on streams that are tributary to the Wisconsin River, except for Lac Vieux Desert which is located at the outlet of a natural lake that is the origin of the Wisconsin River. The dams raised the levels of the associated natural lakes by several feet and were used in the late 1800s for transporting logs to downstream industrial facilities. This was done by storing water in the lakes and then opening the dam to cause a large artificial rise in river flow, generally at the same time natural flooding was already occurring, that would then float logs stored in the lakes to downstream markets. When WVIC acquired these dams the operation pattern was changed so that the storage and release of water from the lakes could be used to achieve more uniform downstream river flow. This operation is exactly opposite of that used for logging purposes. These reservoirs are known as natural-lake reservoirs."
Interesting bit of history. It seems that the dams like the ones on North and South Twin Lakes were originally used to create or enhance flooding to move logs downstream. From what I can gather, it is correct that Pioneer Lake does not have a water control structure (dam) to regulate water level. Rather it drains naturally, unfortunately rather slowly, through Pioneer Creek and on to the Wisconsin River.
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Phelps was and is a logging town the entire area was clear cut back in the logging haydays...Difficult to see today but if you know what to look for the clear cut scars are still visable today. I lived on lakes or saltwater for 60 years so very familar with shoreline change and the ups and downs of water levels caused by Mother Nature. In 2009 North and South Twin lake levels were low and I'm not sure the Twins lake owners object to their current water levels but Pioneer lake owners are drowning in the current overflow. I have been in Vilas since 2004 and the lakes have been up and down which seems natural to me but a 500 year flood is no fun.... forget the lake levels the amount or rainy/cold days has been unpleasant for summer weather and difficult to do outdoor activities with all the rain. Today was another rain out day & getting very old but the ducks like it. lol
Hang in there. Vilas is a beautiful place. We get plenty of dreary weather here, usually related to Lake Superior. And I hate to admit it, but sometimes it gets old when the sun disappears and it starts snowing and will not stop for a month or so at time. But still better than rain for sure.
Hey, don't knock the snow, that's why I retired here. Wife bought the house-----my only wish was to be close to the trails. Guess what? It's at the end of the driveway, lol. Luckily, I have a long driveway and trees out front so we never here sleds going by. Of course, the 20 mph thru a lake addition helps as well.
Yeppers we luv the snow in Vilas but as Chuck said it is very much like a cold rain forest this Spring and Summer just about rains everyday and no place for the water to go anymore. I thought the landscapers would be doing well but they can't do much just too wet and and they are having difficulty mowing lawns forget excavating new beds. Looking at my weather app nothing but rain all next week....sure hope that changes.
C
Cirrus_Driver
Guest
3 years ago in central Vilas, on my small lake it was receding shoreline amidst a major drought. This year, the entire area in front of my place that's normally shoreline bog/marsh is flooded so you can't even walk through it to the lake.
We're talking at least 25-30 feet of shoreline that used to be dry, is now under water. Complete reversal.
We're talking at least 25-30 feet of shoreline that used to be dry, is now under water. Complete reversal.
Pouring and blowing hard again today....good luck to everyone that is already flooded up here. I feel very fortunate that we have not had any problems but a very wet lakeside yard. Heard about basements flooded and people didn't know until they arrived at their cabins....that has to SUCK!
The WVIC (WI Valley improvement CO) has guidelines for water level management. So legally they had to release water from the dam on S Twin to stay within the guidelines. Ridiculous as it is to drain 3000 acres down a few inches & then flood Pioneer at 400 or so acres.
Regarding Pioneer, it has an outlet at the SW corner that is the Pioneer Creek. It flows north crossing under HWY K where the snowmobile trail runs the road for a few hundred yards east of town. then it curves west and crosses Town Rd and HWY 45 where the new bridge is. There is no water control structure on the Pioneer Creek, just the lay of the land.
Regarding Pioneer, it has an outlet at the SW corner that is the Pioneer Creek. It flows north crossing under HWY K where the snowmobile trail runs the road for a few hundred yards east of town. then it curves west and crosses Town Rd and HWY 45 where the new bridge is. There is no water control structure on the Pioneer Creek, just the lay of the land.