High Water

Water covers County Highway O, between Highways 22 and 73 in Waushara County. Photo by Jerry Apps

For a dozen years or more, the water table at my farm and throughout central Wisconsin had been dropping. My two ponds, several acres each when they are at their normal levels were fast becoming mere puddles, marshy substitutes for what they should have been. My ponds have no inlets or outlets; they rise and fall with the water table. Other lakes in the area suffered in a similar fashion. Lake property owners complained that their property taxes reflected a lake home, and what they had was a home that looked out over what looked like a grassy cow pasture.

About three years ago, heavy rainfall each year recharged the water table until today it reached levels no one, not even the oldest of the old timers ever remembered. Lakes and ponds ran over their banks, roads flooded, and water surrounded some farmsteads. Fields that at one time were cultivated, are now ponds. Trees, some of them more than 100 years old and grow on the banks of ponds and lakes are now surrounded by water. I doubt the trees, especially the oaks will survive.

It’s a most interesting time--especially that no one predicted this would happen. Indeed there was concern the water table would continue to drop and cause havoc for irrigation systems, wells, and of course lake recreation.

The questions many now have are: how long will the water table keep rising? How high will it reach? When will it begin dropping again? How far will it drop?

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Never underestimate Mother Nature. She is full of surprises.

WHERE TO BUY MY BOOKS AND DVDS.

My books are available at your local bookstore or from the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose—a fundraiser for them. Phone: 920-622-3835 for prices and ordering.
Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division Street
Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.
www.wildroselibrary.org

If you live in the western part of the state, stop at Ruth’s home town, Westby and visit Dregne’s.. They have a great selection of my books for sale, or order a book by calling them at 1-877-634-4414.