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Fox Locks Open 2026 Season

The Fox River Lock System officially opens Saturday, May 16 and this season boaters and pedestrians have a lot to see!

Without the lock system, boaters on the Fox River would not be able to navigate the system of locks that cover 39 miles and drops in elevation 168 feet—a vertical drop equal in height to the total drop of Niagara Falls.

The locks give boaters about 20 miles of navigable waterway from just south of Wrightstown to the Bay of Green Bay; boaters have about 17 miles of navigable riverway from south of Wrightstown to Menasha.

Non-motorized boat traffic on the system has grown and kayakers and canoers are discovering how easy it is to travel the river. Kayak portages have been funded by grants from several community organizations including the David L. and Rita E. Nelson Family Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, Fox Cities Greenways, and the Fox Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau. Completed portages include:

  • All four Appleton locks,
  • Little Chute,
  • All five Kaukauna locks have new portages constructed last fall,
  • Existing portages that are slated for future restoration are at De Pere and Cedars locks.

Additional updates for the 2026 season:

  • Annual passes are on sale now and ONLY available online. Boaters can enjoy five months of cruising the locks for only $150. A season pass gets you through any lock during any hour of operation from May-October; a $15 day pass gives you the same access for a single day of cruising.
  • Locks in Little Kaukauna and De Pere are the busiest locks and are open seven days a week 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 16-Labor Day. In September and October, these locks are only open weekends until 6 p.m.
  • Locks in Appleton, Little Chute, Cedars, Combined Locks, and all five Kaukauna locks are open weekends 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 16-Labor Day.
  • Of special note are summer’s big holidays: Memorial Day, the 4th of July, and Labor Day. All locks will be operational on these holidays.
  • Public docks are available at Appleton Lock 2, Appleton Lock 4, at the Appleton Yacht Club, at the Little Chute Guard Lock, and at the De Pere Lock.

 

For a full schedule of lock hours, please visit foxlocks.org.

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https://foxlocks.org/blog/elementor-260522/

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In: Climate, Climate change, Detroit, Events, Events and Special Broadcasts, Feature Detroit, Feature Homepage, Great Lakes Conferences Conferences, Great Lakes Now Events and Road/River Shows, Industry, Energy, Economic Development, Latest News, Michigan, News, Science, Technology, Research, TED, Video
The TED Countdown Summit is coming to Detroit

TED wants to bring Detroit to the world and the world to Detroit. As the city at the heart of the automotive industry grappling with building a sustainable future, Detroit was a deliberate choice for this year’s Countdown Summit.

This invite-only gathering will take place from July 11-14 in Michigan Central, the Fillmore Detroit and other locations around the city.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

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Sustainability and fighting climate change with University of Michigan President Santa Ono

Join Great Lakes Now Wednesday, Apr. 5 at 12 p.m. for a conversation on sustainability and fighting climate change with University of Michigan President Santa Ono.

Ono has put sustainability and fighting climate change among the top priorities for his administration. In addition to several programs and initiatives that are being expanded or developed, the university is serving as the lead institution for the University Climate Change Coaltion that convenes 23 leading North American universities to work toward climate action on campus, in communities, and at a global scale.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

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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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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.

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

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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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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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Blog – Fox Locks

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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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.

Original Article

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

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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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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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COVID hits Buttigieg, others who attended Michigan event

MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. (AP) — At least 15 people who attended a public affairs conference last week on Michigan’s Mackinac Island have tested positive for COVID-19, including U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

The gathering is put on each year by a business group, the Detroit Regional Chamber, and attracts more than 1,000 public officials, journalists and others who discuss a variety of political and policy issues.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

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Join the Conversations: Events on “Water’s True Cost” will answer your questions about water infrastructure

Throughout the Great Lakes region and across the United States, water systems are aging.

In some communities, this means water bills that residents can’t afford or water that’s unsafe to drink. It’s also leading to increased pollution in some of Michigan’s most pristine lakes. From shrinking older cities and small towns to the comparatively thriving suburbs, the true cost of water has been deferred for decades.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

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Water’s True Cost: Episode Sneak Peek Watch Party

In this episode sneak peek watch party, join GLN Producer Anna Sysling for a preview of the May show and a conversation with several guests who all played a part in this episode’s story about the complicated financial, public health and infrastructural implications of our drinking water.

Catch more news at Great Lakes Now: 

Join the Conversations: Events on “Water’s True Cost” will answer your questions about water infrastructure

The Catch: Benton Harbor’s lead pipes and the plan to replace them

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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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Earth Day 2022: What can you do and where?

In-person events are back as people slowly reintroduce themselves to dining in, large gatherings and a return to the office.

But even as indoors becomes less taboo, let’s not forget the great outdoors, which served us well over the past two years. And what better time to show your gratitude to the parks than Earth Day.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

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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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http://foxlocks.org/2021/09/28/free-fall-colors-weekend/

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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. 

Original Article

Blog – Fox Locks

Blog – Fox Locks

http://foxlocks.org/2021/05/11/opening-day-2021/

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In: Events, great lakes now, Latest News, News
New Team: What’s good about 2020?

This is part of a series in which the Great Lakes Now staff looks back on 2020.

Besides the fact it’s almost over… one great thing about 2020 for me was joining the Great Lakes Now team.

The pandemic affected us all in many ways, and it often took everything we could muster deep inside to push through.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

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Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/12/new-team-whats-good-about-2020/

Colleen O'Donnell

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In: Events, fox locks, fox locks appleton, Fox Locks in the News, fox river boating, fox river colors, fox river kayak, Fox River Navigational System Authority, Important information, What's going on?

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!

Original Article

Blog – Fox Locks

Blog – Fox Locks

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.

Original Article

Blog – Fox Locks

Blog – Fox Locks

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

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

Original Article

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Blog – Fox Locks

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. 

Original Article

Blog – Fox Locks

Blog – Fox Locks

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

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

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.

 

Original Article

Blog – Fox Locks

Blog – Fox Locks

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

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In: electric barrier, Events, fox locks, fox river locks, Fox River Navigational System Authority, Important information, menasha lock, menasha lock closed, Newsletters, Press Releases

Many of our customers and concerned citizens have asked specific questions about the proposed electric barrier for the Menasha Lock. We’re answering some of those questions here in order to give you the facts about the propsed project.

Where will the barrier be located?

The barrier will be constructed immediately downstream of the Menasha lock (remember, the Fox River flows north from Lake Winnebago to Green Bay). The lock is located at 82 Broad Street in the City of Menasha. FRNSA leases the property immediately around the lock from the State of Wisconsin.

What changes are proposed for the Menasha lock?

The proposal calls for building a 100-foot long concrete channel, 36 feet wide with vertical walls approximately 13 feet high (2’ will be visible above the waterline). Electrodes will be recessed in the concrete to create a pulsed DC electrical current. A portion of the riverbank on each side of the channel will be filled in to support the concrete channel. The plan calls for installing failsafe systems in the event of a power outage that include a backup natural gas powered generation system, an uninterpretable power supply to cover any possible lapse in power, and almost a dozen other closely monitored alarm controls that will alert operators to any system changes. The system is being built for future adaptability in mind to deter other invasive species.

Is the electric barrier dangerous to humans?

The barrier uses a pulsed field of direct current (DC) in the water that is not dangerous to humans on shore or in their boats. When going through the proposed barrier, boaters must follow a few safety precautions that are normally required for transit through the locks:

  • All boaters must wear an approved personal flotation device (PFD)
  • When entering the lock, all boat passengers must keep their arms, legs, and metal paddles out of the water.
  • No swimming is allowed in a lock or lock channel (there never has been)

Passengers must not get on or off a boat within locks or the lock channel

Where are electric barrier systems currently in use?

Use of electricity to guide and block fish is not a new concept and was derived from electroshocking technology used by fishery departments in nearly all states. Electrical barriers built in the 1950s and 1960s are still in operation. Electric barriers are custom-designed for each situation and, as such, include a wide variety of barrier geometries, waveforms, and field strengths. In short, the objective of each barrier and guidance system is what drives the system design.

More than 70 Smith-Root-designed electrical barriers and guidance systems have been installed across the globe. In Midwestern states such as Minnesota, Michigan, and Illinois Smith-Root has 28 pulsed DC electrical barriers in operation for multiple years and monitoring shows the barriers operate reliably.

The design proposal is currently 60% complete and has been submitted to the state DNR for review and approval. For more information including design proposals, construction proposals, and supporting documentation, visit this link. 

Original Article

Blog – Fox Locks

Blog – Fox Locks

http://foxlocks.org/2019/10/14/get-the-facts-the-menasha-barrier-part-2/

Fox Locks