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Thank you to our board member!

We want to thank one of our board members for years of leadership and service to the Fox Locks. Jean Romback-Bartels, our representative from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, will be retiring from her day job in January, and also retiring from the board of directors. Her investment of professional and personal time in the operation of the locks system has been invaluable.

Q: Why are the Fox Locks important to the DNR?

A: Anything that enhances the public’s ability to get out and enjoy the natural resources of this amazing state is important to the Department of Natural Resources. And to have this unique and historic feature traversing the popular and populous Fox River Valley–well, it goes without saying that we at the DNR are interested and invested in this state treasure.

Q: How does this unique attraction support the DNR’s mission? 

A: Our mission statement is all about preserving and protecting the natural resources for all people to enjoy. Having the lands held by the state, for the people of the state, and available for their use to walk on, fish from, or voyage through on a boat is what we want, what we need the people to do in order to stay connected to the resources. People who are connected care.

Q: Why was public service on the board important to you personally? 

A: As you know, the DNR has an obligation to be a member of the board of directors, but it goes beyond that. Public service is an honor. The public is, by default of my being hired into this position as Secretary’s Director in northeast Wisconsin, expecting me to serve in all of my duties with their best interest at heart and to the level of their expectations. I took that charge seriously when I was hired into my first job and will until I step away and retire from my position. I serve the people of the state, those who live, work, and/or play in the state. Whether you have ever visited northeast Wisconsin or not, my job was to ensure that if you did, it would be a good experience with resources to explore.

Q: What is your best hope for the future of the Fox Locks? 

A: My best hope for the lower Fox River locks is a long existence, where history and people come together and we slow down, take the time to really look at the cultural, historical, and natural resources at hand and appreciate all the river has to offer.

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https://foxlocks.org/blog/thank-you-to-our-departing-board-member/

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Project underway to improve portages

Thanks to a grant from the David L. and Rita E. Nelson Family Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, construction will soon begin to improve portages on the Fox River locks system. The $150,000 grant will be used to help build improved portages along the system.

Since reopening the locks in 2015, non-motorized boaters have been portaging around the lock and dam system through temporary or makeshift portages often made by the boaters for one season. Existing portages are muddy, rugged paths or have not been maintained and are unsafe. And in recent years the Fox Locks have attracted a growing number of paddlers.

“We have seen steady growth in people exploring the Fox River through the locks on kayaks and canoes,” said Phil Ramlet, executive director of FRNSA. “Improving the portages is the best thing we can do to make the river accessible to a broad range of users and this grant will help us do that.”

Portages will be designed for safety and convenience of boaters at improved access points along the lock system. Another benefit of upgrading the portages is they will help to stabilize the shoreline along the locks.

“Most people are not aware of how the swift current of the Fox River erodes and destabilizes the shoreline along the lock system,” Ramlet said. “The grant will help us support our mission of repairing and maintaining the lock system for all boaters.”

Non-motorized boaters use the portages to carry their canoes or kayaks overland rather than going through the locks. Because the locks operate primarily on weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day, paddlers often use the portages to navigate the elevation change on the Fox River when the locks are not operating.

We are still seeking additional donations to complete the portage construction which is estimated at $495,000 and the portages will be phased in over a period of three to five years. If you are interested in supporting this effort, please visit this link. 

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https://foxlocks.org/blog/project-underway-to-improve-portages/

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In: fox locks, fox river boating, fox river locks, Fox River Locks History, Fox River Navigational System Authority, General

The Fox Locks pre-date the Civil War, so there is a large body of historical information on the system. We are lucky to have an amateur historian on staff, and these are excerpts from Scott Thompson’s greater research into the system.

A brief history of boats cruising the Fox

A boat built for combat was hauling logs from Canada on the lock system after WWII. According to an article in the Appleton Post Crescent from Sept 28, 1946, the PlusWood Company purchased such a craft. The LCT (Landing Craft -Tanks) was perhaps built for beach landings in Europe towards the end of WWII, but was never used in combat. 

You can see the PlusWood working its way through the Kaukauna Locks in the photo below. We believe the view is downstream towards Lock #2 with a view of the lock tender house on the left side of the canal. Not many photos available of that house!

The history of the locks is intertwined with the boats that cruised the Fox River. In 1891, the tugboat christened as, “U.S. Lake Survey No. 1”, was soon renamed to honor Gouverneur Kemble Warren who was a civil engineer and Army general who fought at Gettysburg during the Civil War. The General G.K. Warren tug worked the lower Fox River and canals until 1920.

A few historical documents tell a story about the people working on these boats and what life on the river was like. A checklist of “Serviceable Engineer Property” was created when the General GK Warren tug was delivered to Kaukauna in 1892.  The variety of items range from axes to blankets to sugar!

In 1904, Thomas Lee was classified as a “laborer” and this is his pay stub representing a day’s work on a canal boat working on the upper dam in Appleton. On additional forms his work description was, “Operation and care of canals and other Fox River Navigation” but look closely at his day rate of pay of $1.50.

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https://foxlocks.org/blog/history-shorts-working-on-the-river/

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The Fox Locks pre-date the Civil War, so there is a large body of historical information on the system. We are lucky to have an amateur historian on staff, and these are excerpts from Scott Thompson’s greater research into the system.

Stacked Stone construction was the earliest method of building the Fox River Locks and was used until the Army Corps of Engineers took over management in the 1880s. At that time, locks were rebuilt with quarried limestone blocks and concrete. Fortunately for us, Kaukauna Lock 5’s original construction somehow avoided the limestone block upgrade and retains the original stacked stone construction style. It is the only operating lock in the system with this style. 

 

The walls of this lock are 6’wide at the top and 12 ‘ wide at the bottom which is anchored into the bedrock. In the photo refurbishing is about to start on this lock with the construction of an earthen coffer dam on the downstream side.The ragged looking debris on the stone walls is the remnants of a system of support timbers, tie rods and planking. The timbers and tie rods help keep the stone in place, while the planking helped protect the boat hulls during a lockage. Mostly wooden boat hulls in the old days!

 

It sounds like the big challenge with this construction style was the freeze/thaw cycle that took place early and late in the season. Water loves to find its way into the small cracks and crevices and doesn’t completely drain out. Freezing temps would create ice and damaging expansion forces. But again, somehow this lock survived and was eventually restored true to its original construction.

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https://foxlocks.org/blog/history-short-locks-made-of-stacked-stone/

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In: cruise fox river, fox locks, fox river, fox river kayak, General, kayaking, northeast wisconsin paddlers

It’s one of the most colorful and fun events of the year: the Northeast Wisconsin Paddlers cruise through the Appleton locks. The event is for adults and kids, but only open to non-motorized kayaks and canoes. The date is Saturday, Aug. 26 with a launch from Appleton’s Lutz Park and a paddle through the four Appleton locks to Sunset Park in Kimberly. Fees are adults $15, Northeast Wisconsin Paddlers members $10, and children under 16 are free when accompanied by an adult.

The Appleton Locks Paddle gives you a view from the inside of the only restored, hand-operated locks system in the nation. We pass through all four Appleton locks, which date back to 1856. Learn more about the locks.

If the flow rate is too high for novice paddlers to handle the Appleton locks safely, we will relocate downstream, launching at Sunset Park in Kimberly and landing at Riverside Park in Kaukauna.

Save time at the launch by filling out the American Canoe Association ADULT WAIVER FORM or CHILD WAIVER FORM in advance and have the correct amount of cash or a check to pay the event fee.

For more info, visit this link.

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https://foxlocks.org/blog/appleton-locks-paddle-aug-26/

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The Fox Locks pre-date the Civil War, so there is a large body of historical information on the system. We are lucky to have an amateur historian on staff, and these are excerpts from Scott Thompson’s greater research into the system.

Don’t drink the water?

Many communities along the Fox River used the river for drinking water and even in the early 1900s pollution was a concern. This article from Appleton Post dated June 23, 1910, outlines the conditions on the river and Little Lake Butte des Morts. At the time, wastewater treatment was still 20-30 years into the future and communities dumped sewage directly into the river. Residents and city leaders were always watching for cases of Scarlet Fever and other water-borne infections.

Specifically, the article mentions that the lock master at the “first lock” in Appleton was called on to open the lock gates twice in a day to flush contaminants through the locks and navigation canal.

Original dam construction at De Pere

In 1835, Wisconsin was part of the Michigan Territory and statehood was still 13 years away. That didn’t stop a group of De Pere businessmen from “improving” the Fox River and they received permission from the Michigan legislature to build the original dam across the Fox River. That innovative design called for a construction style using rocks, mud, and brush. Steamboat captains referred to it as a “hazard to navigation.”  

However, in a book by Henry Bosse who was with the Army Corps of Engineers, the rock and brush construction worked best on muddy river bottoms (like the Mississippi). If you’re interested, the book is Views on the Mississippi River between Minneapolis, Minn and St. Louis, Mo. 1883–1891. The silty mud moving downstream packs into the brush keeping it all in place. However, the rocky Fox River bottom at De Pere was much different and didn’t hold up.

The original dam at De Pere was replaced by a more robust version using quarried limestone with upgrades to follow using concrete with steel gates. Often, builders of these Fox River dams quarried the limestone right from the riverbed near the dam.

The photos below from the Bosse book show the rock and brush construction underway on a dam on the Mississippi in 1889. Look closely to see the bundled branches and small trees laid down first, followed by a layer of rocks.

 

Original Article

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Blog – Fox Locks

https://foxlocks.org/blog/history-shorts/

Fox Locks

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In: General

The Fox Locks pre-date the Civil War, so there is a large body of historical information on the system. We are lucky to have an amateur historian on staff, and these are excerpts from Scott Thompson’s greater research into the system.

Don’t drink the water?

Many communities along the Fox River used the river for drinking water and even in the early 1900s pollution was a concern. This article from Appleton Post dated June 23, 1910, outlines the conditions on the river and Little Lake Butte des Morts. At the time, wastewater treatment was still 20-30 years into the future and communities dumped sewage directly into the river. Residents and city leaders were always watching for cases of Scarlet Fever and other water-borne infections.

Specifically, the article mentions that the lock master at the “first lock” in Appleton was called on to open the lock gates twice in a day to flush contaminants through the locks and navigation canal.

Original dam construction at De Pere

In 1835, Wisconsin was part of the Michigan Territory and statehood was still 13 years away. That didn’t stop a group of De Pere businessmen from “improving” the Fox River and they received permission from the Michigan legislature to build the original dam across the Fox River. That innovative design called for a construction style using rocks, mud, and brush. Steamboat captains referred to it as a “hazard to navigation.”  

However, in a book by Henry Bosse who was with the Army Corps of Engineers, the rock and brush construction worked best on muddy river bottoms (like the Mississippi). If you’re interested, the book is Views on the Mississippi River between Minneapolis, Minn and St. Louis, Mo. 1883–1891. The silty mud moving downstream packs into the brush keeping it all in place. However, the rocky Fox River bottom at De Pere was much different and didn’t hold up.

The original dam at De Pere was replaced by a more robust version using quarried limestone with upgrades to follow using concrete with steel gates. Often, builders of these Fox River dams quarried the limestone right from the riverbed near the dam.

The photos below from the Bosse book show the rock and brush construction underway on a dam on the Mississippi in 1889. Look closely to see the bundled branches and small trees laid down first, followed by a layer of rocks.

 

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https://foxlocks.org/blog/history-shorts/

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In: dePere lock, fox locks, fox river locks, Fox River Navigational System Authority, General, take your kid to work, tour fox locks

Every year the DOT regional office schedules a “take your kid to work” event that combines fun activities and learning. This year, the office combined an outing to the DePere lock with a demonstration on boat safety from a DNR warden. About 46 kids and 24 adults attended to learn the history and operation of the DePere lock—the busiest lock of all 17 locks on the Fox River. Lock tenders talked about how the locks were used for shipping, cargo, and vital to navigate the sharp drop in elevation of the Fox River. From Menasha to Green Bay, the river drops 168 feet in elevation—equal to the vertical height of Niagara Falls.

Lock tender Scott Thompson explained the size of boats that can fit into the lock chambers and told the kids that in the late 1800s and early 1900s the river was used to ship goods on giant barges and ships. The kids all got the chance to flood the lock chamber by opening the valves and taking a spin on the turnstile to open the giant lock doors. The word from the kids: “This is COOL!”

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Because the holiday falls on a Tuesday this year, we made some scheduling changes. The only locks that will be open on Tuesday, July 4 are the De Pere and Little Kaukauna locks. Locks in the Fox Valley and Kaukauna will be closed on that day but will be open the Saturday and Sunday before and after the 4th of July. We know mid-week holidays may throw off your planning but just remember: for the record July 4, 1776 was a Thursday!  

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Some great news if you love water, music, and great company. The De Pere and Little Kaukauna locks will be open extended hours on Tuesdays this summer for two community music festivals.

The Little Kaukauna lock will be open until 9:30 p.m. on June 27, July 11, July 25, August 8, and August 22 for Wrightstown’s Tunes on Tuesdays concerts. For more info, please visit https://www.foxcities.org/events/tunes-on-tuesday/ .

Also on Tuesdays, the De Pere lock will be open until 9:30 for Knights on the Fox, the free community concert at St. Norbert College. The concerts are on July 11, July 18, July 25, August 1, and August 8. Boaters can take in the fun from the water, or dock at the Thompson Marina on campus. For more information, please visit https://www.snc.edu/community/communityprograms/kotf.html

 

 

 

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Over the next few months, you may notice some activity at the locks. Crews will start removing trees from the levees around the locks to preserve the integrity of the earthen levees. Although we love the trees, they pose a danger for long term preservation of the levees.

The levees, or dikes as some people call them, are earthen barriers that are between the actual Fox River and the navigational channels on the lock system. The levees hold back the river current and help support the structure of the locks, but tree roots compromise their structure.

As trees grow, their long roots seek out water in the Fox River and the navigation channels. Once the tree declines and dies, the roots rot and leave voids in the levees which become entry and exit points for water. The wind and wave action in the Fox River gradually increase the voids over years, then soil shifts in the bank creating unstable levees.

This is what happened at the DePere lock in 2019. “We removed several large, rotting root balls from the levee and could clearly see where the voids were making the soil unstable,” said Jeremy Cords, operations director for the Fox Locks. “Water levels on the Fox River change frequently, so we need to find a solution that will preserve the earthen structures for the long term.”

Over the next 3-5 years, crews plan to remove 15-25% of the trees annually from the levees and remove root balls. Once trees are removed, crews will pack the root voids with materials that meet DNR and geotechnical engineering standards.

For any questions concerning this effort, please contact us at info@foxlocks.org.

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http://foxlocks.org/2023/01/23/tree-removal-to-protect-levees/

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The Fox Locks are run by a volunteer board of directors comprised of community leaders and representatives from state agencies. There are two members each from Brown, Outagamie and Winnebago Counties and designees of the Secretaries of the Departments of Natural Resources, Transportation, and the Director of the State Historical Society.
We had the opportunity to chat with John Vette III, CEO and Chairman of the SNC Manufacturing Company in Oshkosh.  John has been running this family-owned business for decades and has a strong background in international business. He and his family have been active in a variety of regional non-profits where they are strong supporters of the Oshkosh region. We are fortunate to have his business acumen and regional relationships helping the Fox Locks.

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http://foxlocks.org/2022/11/03/meet-our-board-members-john-vette/

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Sending out a huge thank you to everyone who went through the locks this season! The Fall Colors Weekend on October 1 & 2 was a big success and it was great to see all of you. Also, a big shout out to our lock tenders–they make sure you continue to have access to this historic navigation system. Please stay tuned to our website and our Facebook page for updates on the 2023 season and operational hours. See you when the ice melts!

Check out this short video from our Fall Colors Weekend!

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http://foxlocks.org/2022/10/06/thank-you-for-cruising-with-us/

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The weekend of October 1&2 will be our final events for the 2022 season and we are hoping for great weather!
Back by popular demand, our FREE Fall Colors Weekend will again give you the best option for viewing the colors of the season from the Fox River. No locks fees needed, just bring your boat, your family, and cruise through the locks. That weekend, locks will be open as follows:

  • All five Kaukauna Locks 10am-6pm
  • Little Rapids 10am-6pm
  • De Pere Lock 10am-6pm

For all you boaters, this is your last chance this season to get your boats out of the water for winter storage. We didn’t want to charge you a locks fee for giving those boats an off-season home! Please remember we will not be opening the locks before winter after this weekend.

If you don’t have a boat, please bring the kids to watch the locks in action. The DePere lock is along the pedestrian paths at Voyager Park and all five Kaukauna locks are accessible via the new Kaukauna Locks trail. Ample free parking is available at both locations.

We’ve been rained out a few times this summer, so we’re hoping Mother Nature cooperates on Sunday, October 2 for a guided tour of the Appleton locks. Christine Williams from the Appleton Historical Society will share the stories of how the locks and Appleton grew up together. You’ll learn how the locks were built before Wisconsin became a state and how generations of lock tenders were on call to open the giant lock gates for commercial and recreational river traffic.

This is a walking tour that will travel the 1.5 miles from Appleton lock 1 located in the shadow of Riverview Gardens to Appleton lock 4 located at River Heath. Parking is a bit tight so we suggest parking at Telulah Park and walking down the hill to lock 4.

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http://foxlocks.org/2022/09/12/plan-today-for-a-busy-final-weekend-on-the-locks/

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In: appleton fall colors, boating fox river, depere fall colors, dePere lock, Events, fox locks, Fox Locks in the News, fox river boating, fox river fall colors, fox river locks, Fox River Locks History, Press Releases

The weekend of October 1&2 will be our final events for the 2022 season and we are hoping for great weather!

Back by popular demand, our FREE Fall Colors Weekend will again give you the best option for viewing the colors of the season from the Fox River. No locks fees needed, just bring your boat, your family, and cruise through the locks. That weekend, locks will be open as follows:

  • All five Kaukauna Locks 10am-6pm
  • Little Rapids 10am-6pm
  • De Pere Lock 10am-6pm

If you don’t have a boat, please bring the kids to watch the locks in action. The DePere lock is along the pedestrian paths at Voyager Park and all five Kaukauna locks are accessible via the new Kaukauna Locks trail. Ample free parking is available at both locations.

We’ve been rained out a few times this summer, so we’re hoping Mother Nature cooperates on Sunday, October 2 for a guided tour of the Appleton locks. Christine Williams from the Appleton Historical Society will share the stories of how the locks and Appleton grew up together. You’ll learn how the locks were built before Wisconsin became a state and how generations of lock tenders were on call to open the giant lock gates for commercial and recreational river traffic.

This is a walking tour that will travel the 1.5 miles from Appleton lock 1 located in the shadow of Riverview Gardens to Appleton lock 4 located at River Heath.

Original Article

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Blog – Fox Locks

http://foxlocks.org/2022/09/12/plan-today-for-a-busy-final-weekend-on-the-locks/

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In: Fox Locks in the News, Important information, Press Releases

The Fox Locks are run by a volunteer board of directors comprised of community leaders and representatives from state agencies. There are two members each from Brown, Outagamie and Winnebago Counties and designees of the Secretaries of the Departments of Natural Resources, Transportation, and the Director of the State Historical Society.

We had the opportunity to chat with Jean Romback-Bartels, the DNR secretary’s director in Northeast Wisconsin. Jean started her career with the DNR as a wildlife technician, then a park ranger, and was promoted as a land & forestry leader. She holds a bachelor’s degree in wildlife and biology, and a minor in natural resources management and is a dedicated outdoors woman.

Please take a moment to find out why she believes the locks are one of the critical pieces of infrastructure in the State of Wisconsin.

 

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Blog – Fox Locks

http://foxlocks.org/2022/09/08/meet-our-board-jean-romback-bartels/

Fox Locks

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In: Fox Locks in the News, Important information, Press Releases

The Fox Locks are run by a volunteer board of directors comprised of community leaders and representatives from state agencies. There are two members each from Brown, Outagamie and Winnebago Counties and designees of the Secretaries of the Departments of Natural Resources, Transportation, and the Director of the State Historical Society.

We had the opportunity to chat with Jean Romback-Bartels, the DNR secretary’s director in Northeast Wisconsin. Jean started her career with the DNR as a wildlife technician, then a park ranger, and was promoted as a land & forestry leader. She holds a bachelor’s degree in wildlife and biology, and a minor in natural resources management and is a dedicated outdoors woman.

Please take a moment to find out why she believes the locks are one of the critical pieces of infrastructure in the State of Wisconsin.

Original Article

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http://foxlocks.org/2022/09/08/meet-our-board-jean-romback-bartels/

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In: appleton locks, boating fox river, Events, fox locks, Fox Locks in the News, fox river locks, Fox River Locks History, Fox River Navigational System Authority, Press Releases

The official summer season is over and to mark the end of a busy season, we held a year-end celebration. In attendance—the people who keep the locks functioning and who literally open the gates for you. These are unique jobs that are rooted in the state’s history. When barges and paddle boats used the river as the main transportation route through Northeast Wisconsin, lock tenders and their families lived in homes at the lock. Their job was to open the gates any time a vessel approached, day or night.

Today our traffic is almost all recreational and the lock tenders don’t live at the locks, but they are still there to open the massive gates to let boat traffic through.

Our lock tenders, maintenance team, support staff, and board members gathered to thank everyone for their hard work. This year marked the first we went all cashless, and lock tenders rallied to the task of checking electronic passes.  We also acknowledged some milestones in service to the system and recognized these folks:

  • Austin Cords, 2 years of service
  • Kathy Lemmer, 2 years of service
  • Joe Holschuh, 2 years of service
  • Dick Vande Hey, 3 years of service
  • Jeremy Cords, 5 years of service
  • Pat Spaay, 6 years of service
  • Scott Thompson, 14 years of service

To top off the evening, our team was treated to a cruise on the Fox River with Captain Dave Peck of River Tyme Tours launching out of River Heath. We thank all of our lock tenders and support teams for their great work and look forward to seeing them next season!

Lock tenders and guests celebrated the end of the ’22 season at Poplar Hall, near Appleton lock 4.

Lock tender Mike Bye shows off his customized shirt!

Executive Director Phil Ramlet and Board Member John Vette.

Phil Ramlet recognizes Jeremy Cords for 5 years of service.

Phil Ramlet recognizes Dick Vande Hey for three years of service.

Phil Ramlet recognizes Pat Spaay for six years of service. Pat is a jack of all trades at the locks!

Phil Ramlet thanks Joe Holschuh for opening the locks for two years.

Kathy Lemmer is thanked for being a lock tender for two years–yes, women can open the lock gates, too!

It’s a family affair for the Lasees! Joe is the official lock tender, but his son Elijah accompanies him on most of his shifts.

Phil Ramlet with our engineering partner Tim Bolwerk from Westwood Professional Services.

Our resident historian Christine Williams with Tim Vosters. Tim’s family was lock tenders for generations.

Lock tenders young and old celebrate the end of the boating season!

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http://foxlocks.org/2022/09/08/fox-locks-team-celebrates-end-of-season/

Fox Locks

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In: appleton locks, boating fox river, Events, fox locks, Fox Locks in the News, fox river locks, Fox River Locks History, Fox River Navigational System Authority, Press Releases

The official summer season is over and to mark the end of a busy season, we held a year-end celebration. In attendance—the people who keep the locks functioning and who literally open the gates for you. These are unique jobs that are rooted in the state’s history. When barges and paddle boats used the river as the main transportation route through Northeast Wisconsin, lock tenders and their families lived in homes at the lock. Their job was to open the gates any time a vessel approached, day or night.
Today our traffic is almost all recreational and the lock tenders don’t live at the locks, but they are still there to open the massive gates to let boat traffic through.
Our lock tenders, maintenance team, support staff, and board members gathered to thank everyone for their hard work. This year marked the first we went all cashless, and lock tenders rallied to the task of checking electronic passes.  We also acknowledged some milestones in service to the system and recognized these folks:

  • Austin Cords, 2 years of service
  • Kathy Lemmer, 2 years of service
  • Joe Holschuh, 2 years of service
  • Dick Vande Hey, 3 years of service
  • Jeremy Cords, 5 years of service
  • Pat Spaay, 6 years of service
  • Scott Thompson, 14 years of service

To top off the evening, our team was treated to a cruise on the Fox River with Captain Dave Peck of River Tyme Tours launching out of River Heath. We thank all of our lock tenders and support teams for their great work and look forward to seeing them next season!

Lock tenders and guests celebrated the end of the ’22 season at Poplar Hall, near Appleton lock 4.

Lock tender Mike Bye shows off his customized shirt!

Executive Director Phil Ramlet and Board Member John Vette.

Phil Ramlet recognizes Jeremy Cords for 5 years of service.

Phil Ramlet recognizes Dick Vande Hey for three years of service.

Phil Ramlet recognizes Pat Spaay for six years of service. Pat is a jack of all trades at the locks!

Phil Ramlet thanks Joe Holschuh for opening the locks for two years.

Kathy Lemmer is thanked for being a lock tender for two years–yes, women can open the lock gates, too!

It’s a family affair for the Lasees! Joe is the official lock tender, but his son Elijah accompanies him on most of his shifts.

Phil Ramlet with our engineering partner Tim Bolwerk from Westwood Professional Services.

Our resident historian Christine Williams with Tim Vosters. Tim’s family was lock tenders for generations.

Lock tenders young and old celebrate the end of the boating season!

Original Article

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http://foxlocks.org/2022/09/08/fox-locks-team-celebrates-end-of-season/

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Years of hard work and extreme generosity from funders made the Kaukauna Locks Trail a reality today! Representatives from the Fox Locks board of directors, community leaders, elected officials, and regional attractions gathered in Kaukauna today to dedicate and cut the ribbon on the new trail.
The 1.3-mile recreational trail runs adjacent to the five Kaukauna locks and is a reality thanks to a $300,000 grant from the David L. and Rita E. Nelson Family Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region (CFFVR). CEO of the Community Foundation Curt Detjen thanked the board members and partners of the Fox Locks for making the trail a reality and said it was part of the Nelson family’s vision to aid organizations in the Kaukauna region.
The trail is now open for public use!

FRNSA board of directors members and staff pose in front of the ribbon ready to dedicate the Kaukauna Locks Trail
L-R, CEO of the Community Foundation Curt Detjen and FRNSA Board Chair Ron Van De Hey get ready to cut the ribbon while FRNSA Executive Director Phil Ramlet looks on.

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FRNSA board of directors members and staff pose in front of the ribbon ready to dedicate the Kaukauna Locks Trail

Years of hard work and extreme generosity from funders made the Kaukauna Locks Trail a reality today! Representatives from the Fox Locks board of directors, community leaders, elected officials, and regional attractions gathered in Kaukauna today to dedicate and cut the ribbon on the new trail.

The 1.3-mile recreational trail runs adjacent to the five Kaukauna locks and is a reality thanks to a $300,000 grant from the David L. and Rita E. Nelson Family Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region (CFFVR). CEO of the Community Foundation Curt Detjen thanked the board members and partners of the Fox Locks for making the trail a reality and said it was part of the Nelson family’s vision to aid organizations in the Kaukauna region.

The trail is now open for public use!

L-R, CEO of the Community Foundation Curt Detjen and FRNSA Board Chair Ron Van De Hey get ready to cut the ribbon while FRNSA Executive Director Phil Ramlet looks on.

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Just announced: purchase a season pass for the remainder of the navigation year and it’s half off! Our season ends Sept. 5 at most upriver locks, but extends until Sept. 25 for DePere and Little Kaukauna locks. Your season pass covers any and all locks as often as you wish to cruise. And remember there’s a lot of beautiful weather left to cruise the locks after Labor day. For more info, visit our website. 

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Just announced: purchase a season pass for the remainder of the navigation year and it’s half off! Our season ends Sept. 5 at most upriver locks, but extends until Sept. 25 for DePere and Little Kaukauna locks. Your season pass covers any and all locks as often as you wish to cruise. And remember there’s a lot of beautiful weather left to cruise the locks after Labor day. For more info, visit our website. 

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By Mary Schmidt, Fox Locks Marketing

We’re used to seeing pontoons, pleasure boats, and kayaks through the Fox Locks, but imagine if a pleasure cruiser longer than a football field were to go through a lock. You’d need a really big lock and that’s what we saw on a recent cruise on the Danube River. Our tour passed through Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary where we crossed through several locks—most during the overnight hours. We were on board the Avalon Passion, one of the Avalon line’s river cruisers—at 443’ long and 39’ wide, the ship can be a tight fit in a lock if there are other boats present. As a comparison, our locks are between 35’-37’ long!

We started the cruise at Regensburg, Germany, then crossed beautiful hills on the way to Passau, Germany. The Jochenstein Lock is in the Wachau Valley near Passau and provided excellent views through the locks.

The captain invited us onto the bridge to watch the process, but as soon as we were in the lock, he steered the ship from controls located on the port and starboard sides of the ship. There, he got a closer look at the clearance on the sides of the lock—at some points it was only a few inches. Please watch this short video to get an idea of what it’s like to travel through locks that have been in use for commercial and pleasure crafts for years.

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http://foxlocks.org/2022/07/18/a-trip-through-european-locks/

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By Mary Schmidt, Fox Locks Marketing

We’re used to seeing pontoons, pleasure boats, and kayaks through the Fox Locks, but imagine if a pleasure cruiser longer than a football field were to go through a lock. You’d need a really big lock and that’s what we saw on a recent cruise on the Danube River. Our tour passed through Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary where we crossed through several locks—most during the overnight hours. We were on board the Avalon Passion, one of the Avalon line’s river cruisers—at 443’ long and 39’ wide, the ship can be a tight fit in a lock if there are other boats present. As a comparison, our locks are between 35’-37’ long!

We started the cruise at Regensburg, Germany, then crossed beautiful hills on the way to Passau, Germany. The Jochenstein Lock is in the Wachau Valley near Passau and provided excellent views through the locks.

The captain invited us onto the bridge to watch the process, but as soon as we were in the lock, he steered the ship from controls located on the port and starboard sides of the ship. There, he got a closer look at the clearance on the sides of the lock—at some points it was only a few inches. Please watch this short video to get an idea of what it’s like to travel through locks that have been in use for commercial and pleasure crafts for years.

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The board of directors of the Fox River Navigational System Authority (FRNSA) has appointed Phil Ramlet as executive director of the organization. Ramlet recently retired from Westwood Professional Services, where he worked for more than 40 years on large infrastructure construction projects. For the last 15 years, he has consulted with FRNSA on property and construction issues for the system.  He has been an active community leader serving in a volunteer capacity on the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley’s Community Real Estate Personal Property Foundation, he served as chairperson of the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce, chairperson of the Appleton Redevelopment Authority, and was a board member for both the YMCA of the Fox Cities and the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

The move is part of a realignment for the Fox Locks in which Jeremy Cords will assume the duties of director of operations for the system. He will be responsible for overseeing all lock operations and system maintenance.   

“This move positions the system for future growth and now we are staffed with the resources to realize our vision,” said Ron Van De Hey, board chairman of the Fox Locks. “We want to attract more boaters and pedestrians to the locks to learn about their role in the historic, economic, and cultural development of Northeast Wisconsin.”

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Phil Ramlet, Executive Director, FRNSA

The board of directors of the Fox River Navigational System Authority (FRNSA) has appointed Phil Ramlet as executive director of the organization. Ramlet recently retired from Westwood Professional Services, where he worked for more than 40 years on large infrastructure construction projects. For the last 15 years, he has consulted with FRNSA on property and construction issues for the system.  He has been an active community leader serving in a volunteer capacity on the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley’s Community Real Estate Personal Property Foundation, he served as chairperson of the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce, chairperson of the Appleton Redevelopment Authority, and was a board member for both the YMCA of the Fox Cities and the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

The move is part of a realignment for the Fox Locks in which Jeremy Cords will assume the duties of director of operations for the system. He will be responsible for overseeing all lock operations and system maintenance.   

“This move positions the system for future growth and now we are staffed with the resources to realize our vision,” said Ron Van De Hey, board chairman of the Fox Locks. “We want to attract more boaters and pedestrians to the locks to learn about their role in the historic, economic, and cultural development of Northeast Wisconsin.”

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June 30th, 2022 UPDATE: The Appleton, Cedars, Little Chute and Combined locks will be open this weekend and will operate until 11:00PM on July 3rd and 4th!

Little Rapids and De Pere will be open until midnight on July 4th!

Original Post June 15th

Attention boaters–all four Appleton locks are closed to boat traffic as of 6.12.22. Repairs are needed to lock 3 to replace rotted boards on the giant lock gates. Our team is hard at work to get this done as quickly as possible and we hope to re-open by the weekend of the 4th of July.

We are fixing a sink hole in the levee at Little Chute, so that lock and Combined Locks are closed this weekend, June 18 & 19. Stay tuned to our website and Facebook page to find out when these locks will re-open.

If you have any questions, please contact our offices at 920-455-9174.

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Attention boaters–all four Appleton locks are closed to boat traffic as of 6.12.22. Repairs are needed to lock 3 to replace rotted boards on the giant lock gates. Our team is hard at work to get this done as quickly as possible and we hope to re-open by the Fourth of July. If you have any questions, please contact our offices at 920-455-9174.

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It’s faster and easier to get your passes for cruising through the locks this year!

All passes may be purchased online starting immediately. Day passes, season passes, even commercial vessel and special event passes can be purchased with a click of a button at this link: https://foxlocks.org/passes/ . To make it even easier, we ask you to set up an individual account and you’ll be able to track all your purchases from Fox Locks. Visit this secure link: https://foxlocks.org/my-account/

When you purchase a season pass (just $100 for months of fun!) we will send you a sticker to affix to your boat. Please remember to allow time to get those passes to you in the mail.

When you purchase a day pass, you’ll be able to select the day on which you want to use the pass. You’ll receive an email confirming your purchase with a line item indicating the day for which the pass is valid. Just remember to have your smart phone with you when you go boating and you can either show your phone to the lock tender, or take a screen shot and text it to the lock tender to verify you purchased a pass.

You don’t need to specify which lock(s) you want to visit, just purchase the day pass, save your email, and show it to the lock tenders when you enter the lock. If there are any questions, please contact our offices at 920-455-9174 or email generalist1@foxlocks.org.

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http://foxlocks.org/2022/04/22/important-updates-for-2022-season%EF%BF%BC/

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For the first time, we are opening two locks to take advantage of the opening day of the inland waters fishing season May 7. Both the DePere lock and the Little Kaukauna (Little Rapids) locks will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 10am-8pm and full schedules are at this link https://foxlocks.org/schedule-and-operations/lock-hours-procedures/.

The full lock system opens Saturday, May 28, and the DePere and Little Kaukauna locks will be open 7 days a week during the season.

We hope to see you at the locks and remember to share pictures of your catch on our Facebook page at this link: https://www.facebook.com/foxlockswi  

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For the first time, we are opening two locks to take advantage of the opening day of the inland waters fishing season May 7. Both the DePere lock and the Little Kaukauna (Little Rapids) locks will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 10am-8pm and full schedules are at this link https://foxlocks.org/schedule-and-operations/lock-hours-procedures/.

The full lock system opens Saturday, May 28, and the DePere and Little Kaukauna locks will be open 7 days a week during the season.

We hope to see you at the locks and remember to share pictures of your catch on our Facebook page at this link: https://www.facebook.com/foxlockswi  

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Lock Tender Jack Willey and his wife, about 1960

This memory was written by Jane Bouressa Smits, a long-time supporter of the locks and we thank her for sharing it!

It is 1960. The bell rings! A boat is coming! Soon lock tender Jack Willey drives down the gravel path behind my house to the Little Chute lock. He is a mentor to my friend Jerry and me, allowing us to open the lock gates by pushing the metal handle around and around and around, engaging the gears that open the locks. We feel powerful moving those heavy gates! He instills pride by letting us help him. He teaches us about nature by pointing out rabbit hutches and identifying birds and flora around his little work station on the locks.

His workroom in the government-provided “lock tender” home has an enormous slanted wooden table (like a drafting table) mounted on the wall. There he sits on a stool and records: the vessel name or number, i.e., Sherry Lyn, MaHenapa, Rusty Pelican, W.S.4990AX; type of boat, i.e., tug, houseboat, sailboat, launch; time signaled; arrival/departure times; direction (up or down river); and number of lockages on the Fox. His wife may be busy preparing lesson plans for English classes at St. John High School. It is all very “official.”

Often, my friend and I either cross the locks or the Little Chute lift bridge to traverse the narrow peninsula that leads from the Little Chute lock to the Combined Locks dam, encountering brush, roots, trees, fallen branches and occasionally poison ivy and poison oak! We light a campfire below the Combined Locks dam (when it isn’t flooded by water) and eat a lunch consisting of Campbell’s alphabet soup and a couple cookies. It is a “wonderland,” and we are free to explore it.

Fast forward to 2012. It warms my heart that the same peninsula is broadened, paved, made safer and open to the public to enjoy and explore. People bike or stroll down Little Chute Heritage Parkway Trail that connects Island Park with Heesakker Park.

Fast forward to 2016. Mr. Willey’s home is now open for rental, so people are able to stay and experience the Fox Locks area up close like Jerry and I did when we were youngsters.

Fast forward to 2021. The Heritage Parkway Trail is extended mostly through the generosity of the David and Rita Nelson Family to become the David and Rita Nelson Family Heritage Crossing. An approximately 1100’ pedestrian bridge was built crossing over the Fox connecting Little Chute to Kaukauna. Also included is a 3/4 mile asphalt trail extending from the Kaukauna side of the bridge into downtown Kaukauna. More extensions of the trail system are planned.

Jayne Bouressa Smits and her friend Jerry taken about 1960

Thankfully, individual citizens, communities, and organizations such as Friends of the Fox, Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Parkway, Fox River Navigation Authority and Fox Cities Greenways have the foresight and drive to develop and preserve our heritage. They provide opportunities for future generations and make me . . . feel like I’m 10 again!

Jayne Bouressa Smits

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Calling all leaf peepers: there is no better way to see the changing colors than from the Fox River. So this weekend, October 2 & 3, we are opening the locks FREE for all boaters! If you’re not a boater, stop down at the locks and chat with one of our great lock tenders (HINT: they may let you take a turn on the turnstyle to open or close the massive gates).

Dates are Saturday, October 2 and Sunday October 3 from 10 am – 6 pm. All locks on the system will be open except Rapide Croche and Menasha, which are closed to prevent invasive species from entering the system.

Don’t forget, the five locks in Kaukauna are open for the first time in decades. These locks provide beautiful vistas of the river and the most lockages in the shortest stretch of the system. For planning purposes, it takes about 15-20 minutes to go through a lock.

Hope to see you this weekend!

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BOATERS: SEASON PASSES ARE 50% OFF NOW THROUGH JULY 31

Get more locks for the money as we cut the cost of a season pass in half for the second half of summer. Now through July 31, purchase a season pass through the locks for just $50. This allows you to use any and all locks during our operating hours through Labor Day. Cruise from Kaukauna, Little Chute, Appleton, and through Little Lake Butte des Morts. Or enjoy the northern part of the lock system from Little Kaukauna, through DePere, and into the Bay of Green Bay. Beautiful cruising is yours for half the cost of a season pass.

There’s plenty of summer left, but you have to purchase before July 31, 2021.

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NEW TRAIL DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCED

The Fox Locks system and the City of Kaukauna will officially open the five locks on the Fox River in a today, July 13 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The ceremony will take place at Kaukauna lock 1, located at 701 Canal St., Kaukauna. Repairs to the Veterans Memorial Lift Bridge in Kaukauna are complete and the bridge will raise and lower to welcome the first boat traffic on the Kaukauna section of the lock system in more than 35 years.

“This project is yet another progressive move for our City and for the long-term betterment of our community,” said City of Kaukauna Mayor, Tony Penterman. “Opening these five locks to boater traffic will give Kaukauna an economic boost and connection to the Fox Cities. Boaters will now be able to take in all the beautiful views the Fox River has to offer throughout Kaukauna.”

The one-mile stretch of the Fox River represents the sharpest elevation drop of 50.4 feet from the guard lock near downtown Kaukauna to lock 5 just north of the Grignon Mansion.

“This is a reality we have been looking forward to for generations,” said Jeremy Cords, CEO of the Fox River Navigational System Authority. “Boats haven’t been able to travel on the Fox River from Menasha to Kaukauna for generations and this represents opening the last major stretch of the locks system since they were reconstructed in 2015.”

So far this summer, boat traffic has more than doubled. From May 22-May 31, 372 boats & kayaks traveled through the open locks as compared to 116 boats & kayaks over the same period in 2020. Traffic during last summer also increased significantly over traffic in 2019:

  •             2019 traffic: 2,563 boats, 12,052 passengers
  •             2020 traffic: 3,982 boats, 17,755 passengers

“We’re confident opening the Kaukauna locks will break all of these records and bring more recreational boaters through the system,” Cords said.

Of the 39-mile lock system about 30 miles will be open in 2021 for navigation. Boaters can travel from the bay of Green Bay to the Rapide Croche lock just south of Wrightstown. The river is also navigable from the Rapide Croche lock south through Kaukauna, Little Chute, Appleton and into Little Lake Butte des Morts to the closed Menasha lock. Both the Menasha lock and the Rapide Croche lock are closed to prevent the spread of invasive species.

Kaukauna interpretative trail announced

Cords also announced plans to develop an interpretative trail along the five Kaukauna locks, thanks to a $300,000 grant from the David L. and Rita E. Nelson Family Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region. The 1.3 mile trail will run adjacent to all five locks and give pedestrians and cyclists a chance to see the locks in action. The trail will be constructed on land already owned by the Fox River Navigational System Authority and will link to existing and proposed trails throughout the Fox Valley.

“This project will increase public access to the historic lock system,” Cords said. “The trail will provide one of the most up-close views of how the locks work along the entire lock system and allow citizens to see living history in action.”

When complete, the trail will feature:

  • A curated trail with informational way-finding signage communicating the history and cultural development of the lock system in a park-like environment.
  • Seating areas with benches and lighting.
  • Access for disabled residents.
  • Exploration of an environmental research project conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey at Kaukauna lock 2.
  • The trail will pass one of two swing bridges built in 1901. This railroad bridge is still in use and opens and closes in under one minute.
  • Trail access will pass sites that are scheduled for future development: the only lock tender house in Kaukauna which will be restored in the future, and the Kaukauna dry dock area which was used for boat and lock repair that is also slated for future restoration.

David and Rita Nelson gave an estate gift of more than $100 million to their charitable fund at the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region. The priorities they specified for the money include parks and recreation with a focus on water enjoyment.

“David Nelson especially loved spending time on and along the water, and he shared those experiences with so many during his lifetime,” said Community Foundation President and CEO Curt Detjen. “The Nelson family origins are in Kaukauna and I am sure they would have walked a trail like this, watching the locks in action.  It is a living history lesson, and their other passion was history. This is an exciting opportunity to enhance community connections while showcasing the Kaukauna’s rich history and wonderful waterways.”

Construction has already started on portions of the trail and is slated for public opening in Spring of 2022. Design partner for the project is Westwood Professional Services (formerly OMNNI Associates).

For more information on the lock system, please visit this link. 

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The countdown for opening day is on! We are excited to open another successful season on the Fox Locks and have a few updates for you before you plan your locks cruise!

Kaukauna locks update: The five locks through Kaukauna are scheduled to open in July. We don’t have a firm date at this time because the City of Kaukauna is finishing repairs to the Veterans Memorial lift bridge and needs to go through a period of testing before opening boat traffic. When open, you’ll be able to cruise a section of the river that has a vertical drop of 50.4 feet in only one mile! Please stay tuned to this website and our Facebook page for an announcement on the opening date.

Menasha lock: Many of you have asked about the status of this lock and it will remain closed in 2021. An electric barrier has been proposed for this lock to prevent the fish from entering the Lake Winnebago watershed and research is currently underway to assess the effects of a barrier on all the life stages of the fish. Research has been completed on adult round goby and additional research is being conducted on the effect of water velocity and the electric barrier on juvenile round goby.

“Above all we want to protect the incredible natural resource of Lake Winnebago and the Fox River,” said Jeremy Cords, CEO of the Fox Locks system. “We are conducting the scientific research thoroughly and with multiple reviews by the state DNR to ensure any solution is verified and built for the long term.” Cords adds that the project is extremely complicated involving approval from several state agencies, ongoing research, and planning by regional engineering firms, so it is impossible at this time to forecast a start or completion date on the project.

For more information, please follow us on Facebook or at this link about the Menasha lock. 

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Our goal is to reopen the Menasha Lock, but not without a solution that prevents the invasive round goby from entering the waters of Lake Winnebago. To that end, we have been working with a firm to study the effects of an electronic barrier and water velocity on deterring the fish from entering the lock channel.

Researchers reported the result of studies on adult round gobies at the most recent meeting of the Fox Locks board of directors. Study results show that an electronic barrier combined with increased water velocity deters adult round gobies from entering the lock channel. The current plan calls for building an electric array near the bottom of the Menasha lock channel that would pulse and push the gobies away or immobilize them. Changes in water velocity in the lock channel would be used to flush the lock and further push the gobies away.

The Wisconsin DNR had previously requested the study also be conducted on larval and juvenile round goby. That phase of the study is scheduled for later this year after egg and larvae collection is completed in summer.

“Above all, we are committed to finding a solution that protects the Lake Winnebago ecosystem and allows us to reopen the lock,” said Fox Locks CEO Jeremy Cords.

“We are as concerned about protecting the watershed and the fishing resource as the DNR is, so we are conducting the scientific research carefully and thoroughly.”

If the study results support the efficacy of the electronic barrier, other testing and approvals would need to take place before construction, barring setbacks and with swift approval construction could take place in the not-too-distant future. “Again, we will need to go through a period of testing the barrier and fine tuning theelectronic array, so this timeline is very preliminary,” Cords said.

In a related matter, the board heard a report on aquatic invasive species monitoring. Fox Lockshas been monitoring invasive species in the Fox River since 2006 and each summer tests waters in the Fox River and locations in Lake Winnebago. Two results were significant:

  • Testing sites in the waters of Lake Winnebago and near shore turned up no samples of round gobies.
  • In 2020, we added more testing sites and logged almost 10,000 hours of fishing yet found fewer round gobies at all locations compared to 2019.

“We don’t know if the native species are feasting on the round gobies, or if there’s a natural dip in the population, but further study will determine if there’s a trend developing,” Cords said.

If you have any questions or concerns about the round goby study or reopening the Menasha lock, please visit our contact page.

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THANK YOU to all who traveled through the Fox Locks System this past season! More than 20,000 people explored the Fox River in trips through the locks, making this one of our busiest seasons in recent years! This season, nine locks were operational—next summer we’ll add the Kaukauna locks to that list for a total of 14 operational locks on the Fox River.  Some fun facts for all of you:

  • On our recent Fall Colors weekend, 250 boats went through the locks to view the peak of Wisconsin color!
  • More than 4500 individual boats traveled the locks, 439 of which were canoes or kayaks. 
  • In all, we had 3,187 lockages.
  • No surprise, our busiest months were July & August.

It only costs $10 for a day pass to travel through as many locks as you would like. We also have annual passes available if boating the river is something you do regularly. 

Thanks again for making the Fox Locks part of your Wisconsin summer!

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http://foxlocks.org/2020/10/16/2020-one-of-our-busiest-years/

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In: appleton fall colors, boating fall colors, Events, fall river tour, fox locks, Fox Locks in the News, fox river fall colors, fox river lock system, Press Releases, wisconsin fall colors

Boaters can take advantage of free lockage on the weekend of October 10 and 11 from 10 am- 6 pm to view the fall colors from the Fox River. Locks at DePere, Little Kaukauna (Little Rapids), Appleton, and Little Chute will provide free lockage for boaters who want to use the locks for one last time in the 2020 season. In addition, pedestrians have access to locks located in DePere, Little Chute, Menasha and Appleton locks. For location maps, please visit www.foxlocks.org.

            “The most beautiful views of the foliage are right from the Fox River,” said Jeremy Cords, CEO of the Fox River Navigational System Authority (FRNSA). “We want boaters and pedestrians to see the breathtaking scenery from the locks, so we’ll waive fees for this weekend to encourage more people to use the locks.”

            Boat traffic through the lock system on the lower Fox River is up over past years, an indication that regional residents are choosing recreational activities closer to home during this time of pandemic. In June of 2020, a total of 1,250 motorized and non-motorized crafts passed through the lock system carrying 5,055 passengers. This is more than twice the number of boats through the locks than at the same time in 2019.

            Navigation on the full system ended September 20. The lock system on the Fox River is one of the only fully restored, hand-operated lock systems in the nation and all locks are on the National Register of Historic Places. Just as they did when the locks were built in the 1850s, lock tenders open and close the giant gates and valves by hand.

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http://foxlocks.org/2020/09/22/fox-locks-open-for-free-fall-colors-weekend/

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It’s not every day you see a giant barge slip through the locks, but September 15 was that day. Occasionally, Radtke Contractors asks for a special lockage to transport their equipment via barge. The locks are just large enough to accommodate this barge and you can see the tight fit in this video:

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http://foxlocks.org/2020/09/16/barge-travels-through-appleton-locks/

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In: fox locks, Fox Locks in the News, fox locks visitor center, fox river locks, Important information, Press Releases, Visitor Center

This is an update on action taken at the board of directors’ recent meeting.

The board of directors of the Fox River Navigational System Authority (FRNSA) voted to stop the development of a visitor center slated for construction at lock three located near Appleton’s Lawe Street. Plans had called for developing an interpretive center chronicling the history of the lock system in a multi-use building adjacent to the lock. The unanimous vote was taken at the board’s monthly meeting August 25, 2020.

Leaders of FRNSA cited the economic uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic as the catalyst for suspending development plans.

“Interpretive centers and museums across the country are either shut down or operating on reduced hours due to the pandemic,” said Jeremy Cords, CEO of FRNSA. “It is not responsible to invest substantial sums of money into this development when we are facing economic uncertainty and prolonged social distancing.” The visitor center had been proposed as a major destination for school and tour groups. 

Cords and other board members also reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to completing research necessary to re-open the closed Menasha lock. The authority is currently conducting research on the effects of water velocity and an electronic barrier on the life cycle of the invasive round goby. The research is expected to affirm that an electronic barrier installed at the Menasha lock will be effective in preventing the round goby from entering the Lake Winnebago watershed through the Menasha lock. The total cost of this research project is estimated at $120,000. 

“Our first responsibility is to maintain access to the lock system,” Cords said. “We are passionate about sharing the living history of the lock system with state residents and with maintaining the environmental beauty of the Fox River by keeping the locks open and functioning.”             

Of the 17 locks on the lower Fox River, all have been restored and are in working order. Currently, nine of the locks are open for approximately 25 miles of navigation on the river.  The five Kaukauna locks are expected to open in 2021 when repairs to the Veterans Memorial lift Bridge in downtown Kaukauna are complete. The Menasha lock was closed in 2015 by request of the Wisconsin DNR to prevent the round goby from reaching Lake Winnebago through the lock.

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http://foxlocks.org/2020/08/27/visitor-center-plans-cancelled-round-goby-research-continues/

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Board member Jean Romback-Bartels speaks at groundbreaking for Fox River Trail
FRNSA board member Jean Romback-Bartels speaks at groundbreaking for Fox River Trail

We welcome an exciting new project to the Little Chute neighborhood! The Village of Little Chute and City of Kaukauna broke ground and celebrated a new project to build a walking trail/bridge connecting the two communities this week. The trail is anchored right next to the lock at Heesaker Park in Little Chute.  The trail is part of the Loop the Locks Trail project, winding through Appleton, Combined Locks, Kaukauna, Kimberly and Little Chute in about 15 miles of connected trails. Many of the trails run along the lock system.

At the event, Jean Rombak-Bartels, the secretary’s director for the Wisconsin DNR in Northeast Wisconsin, addressed the crowd. We are honored to have Jean serve as a member of the Fox River Navigtional System Authority board of directors.  

The head of the trail will be named the David and Rita Nelson Family Heritage in honor of a $650,000 challenge grant from the David L. and Rita E. Nelson Family Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox River Valley Region

If you visit the lock or are traveling the river, you’ll see the cranes and construction crews working on the trail. 

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http://foxlocks.org/2020/08/20/construction-starts-on-pedestrian-trail-near-little-chute-lock/

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In: Boating, boating fox river, Events, fox locks, fox river boating, fox river locks, Important information, Press Releases

Boat traffic through the lock system on the lower Fox River is up over past years, an indication that regional residents are choosing recreational activities closer to home during this time of pandemic. In June of 2020, a total of 1,250 motorized and non-motorized crafts passed through the lock system carrying 5,055 passengers. This is more than twice the number of boats through the locks than at the same time in 2019.

            “We’ve had steady growth in lock usage in recent years, but this level of traffic shows us that regional residents are becoming more familiar with the lock system and spending more time on the water,” said Jeremy Cords, CEO of the Fox River Navigational Authority (FRNSA). The Authority manages the 17 locks on the lower Fox River.

            Usage statistics show the following trends:

 BoatsNon-motorizedTOTALPassengers
June 201880640 8463674
June 2019545285732661
June 202011638712505055

            For this past 4th of July weekend, 156 boaters passed through the locks compared to 94 boaters in 2019. 

            Of the 39-mile lock system about 25 miles are open for navigation. Boaters can travel from the bay of Green Bay to the Rapide Croche lock just south of Wrightstown. The river is also navigable from the Rapide Croche lock south through Little Lake Butte des Morts to the closed Menasha lock. Both the Menasha lock and the Rapide Croche lock are closed to prevent the spread of invasive species.

            “As we open more stretches of the river to navigation, we expect these trends will continue to grow for both boaters and pedestrians interested in the lock system,” Cords said. Right now, work is underway to restore the Veterans Memorial Bridge in Kaukauna to working order, which will open the five locks in Kaukauna to boater traffic. Work is expected to be complete in 2021.

            The Menasha lock will remain closed to prevent the spread of the invasive round goby. An electric barrier has been proposed for this lock to prevent the fish from entering the Lake Winnebago watershed and research is currently underway to assess the effects of a barrier on all the life stages of the fish.

            The lock system on the Fox River is one of the only fully restored, hand-operated lock systems in the nation. From 2005-2015 the Fox River Navigational System Authority (FRNSA) restored 16 of the 17 locks on the system at an investment of $14.5 million. 

            A 2017 economic impact study conducted by the University of Wisconsin—Oshkosh indicated the lock system could generate as much as $290 million in total economic output over a ten year period and generate as many as 6,300 additional jobs. The study further indicates a fully operational lock system could generate $99 million in additional business investment over the same time period.             The Fox Locks operate through Labor Day 2020. 

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http://foxlocks.org/2020/07/28/fox-river-locks-usage-increases-in-june-2020/

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Did you know that it takes about an hour to regenerate the water in the Appleton navigation canals after the locks are opened? That’s why we have what might seem to be an unusual operational schedule for Appleton lock 1 (near the Yacht Club) and Appleton lock 4 (near River Heath). Appleton lock 1 operates on even hours and Appleton lock 4 operates on odd numbered hours. If we didn’t give the navigational channels time to recycle, boaters will scrape their crafts on the bottom of the canal. For a full list of our scheduled hours, please visit this link.

So please be patient while nature takes its course as you travel through the four Appleton locks.

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http://foxlocks.org/2020/07/01/clarification-of-appleton-hours/

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Did you know that it takes about an hour to regenerate the water in the Appleton navigation canals after the locks are opened? That’s why we have what might seem to be an unusual operational schedule for Appleton lock 1 (near the Yacht Club) and Appleton lock 4 (near River Heath). Appleton lock 1 operates on even hours and Appleton lock 4 operates on odd numbered hours. If we didn’t give the navigational channels time to recycle, boaters will scrape their crafts on the bottom of the canal. For a full list of our scheduled hours, please visit this link.

So please be patient while nature takes its course as you travel through the four Appleton locks.

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http://foxlocks.org/2020/07/01/clarification-of-appleton-hours/

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In: coronavirus, fox locks, Fox Locks in the News, fox river locks, Fox River Navigational System Authority, Important information, Newsletters, Press Releases, social distancing

Many of the business practices we have at the Fox River Navigational System Authority already take into account social distancing simply due to the nature of our work at the locks. However, to comply with CDC guidelines and state recommendations, we are following these procedures to increase personal safety and limit exposure to the coronavirus.

In our offices:

  • We banned all external visitors from our offices by March 20 and immediately began to work from home.
  • All board meetings and committee meetings have been conducted via videoconference.

At the Locks: This summer we will employ 29 lock tenders at the nine locks on the system that are open for boaters.

  • The nature of operating the locks requires a lock tender to be at each end of the lock, a distance of about 145 feet.
  • Our annual opening day is delayed until May 30, 2020.
  • All lock tenders will be wearing face masks and have hand sanitizer at each lock gate.
  • Lock turnstyles, valve controls and ropes used for anchoring boaters will be wiped down and sanitized after each lockage.
  • When boaters enter the locks, they are between 15’-6’ below the lock’s retaining walls depending on the level of the river, and are naturally socially distanced from the lock tenders.
  • When lock tenders are collecting lock fees they will use a bucket on a pole to avoid contact with boaters.

Our goal is to provide a safe and memorable experience to all boaters traveling through the locks and to pedestrians who want to experience living history in action. For a complete listing of our operating hours and fees to travel the lock system, please visit this link. 

 

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http://foxlocks.org/2020/05/28/fox-locks-ensuring-your-safety/

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Many of the locks feature portages for kayaks or canoes and it is a great way to visit the locks and the Fox River. However, in recent years, people have been trespassing on the land and accessing the river at the closed Rapide Croche lock.

According to Wisconsin state statute, this lock must remain closed to boaters to prevent the spread of invasive species and it is not safe for pedestrians as high water has caused erosion on the banks. The property along the lock is fenced, “no trespassing” signs are posted, and the Fox River Navigational System Authority does not staff the lock.

Any person transporting a watercraft from the Fox River at the Rapide Croche lock has the potential to transport invasive species. Please understand that any person trespassing on this property is breaking state law. Also understand that the site is being monitored with cameras and periodic inspections. There are no businesses or organizations that have permission to use portage at this lock, so please pay attention to the no trespassing signs and enjoy the river at another portage site.

 

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http://foxlocks.org/2020/05/24/attention-kayakers-rapide-croche-lock-remains-closed/

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The new chair of the Fox River Navigational System Authority is no stranger to the organization. We welcome back former board member Ron Van De Hey to serve as board chairman. He was appointed by Gov. Evers to fill out the remainder of Tim Rose’s term due to his passing. Ron previously served on the board of directors and ended his term in 2014. From 1982-1992 he served as mayor of Kaukauna (and is still affectionately known as Mayor Vandy) and worked for many years in the insurance industry. We are honored to have his leadership in our organization again!


Original Article

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http://foxlocks.org/2020/05/17/2954/

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