If you are interested in donating toward the Manawa Dam there is an account setup at Premier Community Bank.
Manawa Dam Feasibility Study Report
Manawa Dam Feasibility Study Presentation Handout (5/28/25)
Take a look at the provided information if you are looking for a way to help with the Manawa Dam and Millpond restoration. Everyone can help. Please share. Thank you to Jackie Beyer, Town of Little Wolf Clerk, for putting this information together.
𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘 — FEBRUARY 17, 2025 will be the start date of the shoreline stabilization on the shore along Sturm Memorial Library and Kobussen.
-The east sidewalk along the bridge will be closed.
-The library driveway and main parking lot will be closed. Access to the library can be made by turning east on Beach Street. The library’s back parking lot can be utilized. All ADA compliance will be maintained. The library back door is for employees only. Use the front door to gain entrance to the library.
-Follow the link to see the timeline for the shoreline stabilization project: https://cityofmanawa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/lwrss-preliminary-schedule-2-13-25.pdf
On 1/10/2025, representatives from the City of Manawa, Cedar Corporation, and the Wisconsin DNR met to discuss the Manawa Dam Shoreline Stabilization project that the DNR deemed an immediate need for attention. After the City had successfully been awarded assistance from the NRCS for the stabilization work to be done, it was found that all construction work would need to be completed by 4/25/2025. The DNR stated in the meeting that with this timeline, permitting requirements, and bidding out the project, the completion date of 4/25/2025 would most likely not be feasible due to the spawning season beginning March 1st, and no work in the waterway could take place between March 1st and possibly sometime between the middle of May to June. Joe Pingel from Cedar Corporation brought up the concept of the need for the stabilization being initially brought up by the DNR and that with the funding assistance available, would there be a way to speed up any part of the process. All parties agreed that an “in-person” meeting at the shoreline area by the Library to discuss details further would be beneficial.
On 1/14/2025, Mayor Mike Frazier, Director of Public Works Josh Smith, Joe Pingel and Brandon Strelow of Cedar Corporation, Steve Becker with NRCS, Dwight Shanak of Wiscons8, and Scott Koehnke and one other representative of the DNR met at the shoreline area and began to discuss the work area parameters that would require permitting and areas that would not require it. All parties walked areas of the Dam breach and the shoreline leading west towards the Manawa Lift station located in front of Kobussen and discussed the high-water areas that would require permitting where actual work in the water would have to take place. All areas that are located above the high water level of the river, the DNR does not require permitting for and construction can happening in those areas at anytime. Following discussion regarding timelines and design time that would be needed, it was agreed that the DNR would accept a preliminary design construction plan to be submitted with the understanding that additional information would be following. It was also noted following the completion of this meeting that the normal bid process would not have to be done per Steve Becker of NRCS. He also noted that expedited contracting procedures would not affect the terms and conditions in the agreement. Steve Becker additionally added that The City of Manawa can follow its own procurement procedures & policies, with the basic assurances attached. Simply stated, the contractor needs to pay Davis Bacon wage & fringe rates, and the City needs land right assurances (in writing) to construct the project on land not owned by the City by Kobussen. In conclusion, the agreed timeline to get any construction work that would need to done in the water would have to be the first priority to ensure that it gets completed before the March 1st date. All additional work being done above the high water line can proceed following the “in-water” construction to be completed by the 4/25/2025 end date as set by the NRCS.
Press Release – December 23, 2024
On Wednesday December 11, 2025, Mayor Frazier, Common Council member Jim Roenz, City employees Josh Smith and Logan Hass met with the Township of Little Wolf members Jackie and Rod Beyer, and Brandon Strelow, Community Infrastructure Consultant and Joe Pingel, PE from Cedar Corporation regarding proposals for the upcoming work and schedule centered around the Little Wolf River Shoreline Stabilization project and the Manawa Mill Pond Reconstruction. The Little Wolf River Shoreline Stabilization project is being required by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to reduce erosion on approximately 310 feet of the river near the dam. Funding for this project is being provided by the Emergency Watershed Protection Program through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
The initial phase of the Manawa Mill Pond Dam Reconstruction will consist of a feasibility report detailing three to four design alternatives, concepts, and cost estimates for long-term dam solutions. A cost estimate from the chosen alternative will be submitted to the State Joint Finance Committee in hopes of being included in the next state budgetary cycle.
The project updates and proposals were then presented at the December 16, 2024, City of Manawa Common Council meeting. The Council approved moving forward with Cedar Corporation’s proposals for the Little Wolf River Shoreline Stabilization project and feasibility study for the Manawa Mill Pond Dam Reconstruction. Pending DNR permitting, the shoreline stabilization will be completed in winter or spring of 2025. The feasibility study will be completed in winter of 2025.
Also, during the December 16th City of Manawa Common Council Meeting, Alan Moede, Little Wolf Town Chairman requested a new joint dam agreement between Manawa and Little Wolf. The City of Manawa and Town of Little Wolf agree that the Manawa Mill Pond and dam provide value to both communities, their residents, and guests. The Manawa Council approved moving forward to negotiate a contract with the Township of Little Wolf.
Since authorization to begin the projects, Cedar Corporation has started collecting data on topography of the riverbanks, geotechnical borings, hydraulic conditions of the river, and put in record requests to the DNR and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for all information related to the history of the dam and river in the project limits. Cedar Corporation and NRCS have partnered on reviewing shoreline stabilization concepts and communications with the DNR regarding project permitting.
Information from Scott E. Koehnke, Senior Water Management Specialist, Enforcement & Compliance
Bureau of Waterways, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Hello and good day:
The Department is aware that there has been interest by some residents regarding shoreline work and other types of work on the Manawa Mill Pond while the waterway is drained – this is a pretty normal response during extended drawdowns. All waterway/wetland activities at or below the ordinary high watermark are still regulated regardless of the current water level situation. Shoreline work (riprap, vegetation removal, dredging) along with boat ramp access, grading, structures, chemical treatment and driving motorized vehicles on the exposed lakebed are all regulated activities. In the case of driving on the lakebed, that is a prohibited activity under statute (30.29, Stats.). Note: chemical treatment of vegetation is regulated by our lakes biologist/aquatic plant management specialist, Ted Johnson.
For questions on proposed projects, please start by reviewing the attached weblinks which provide all the information necessary to determine if your proposal requires written approval. For reference, the Manawa Mill Pond is not an ASNRI water and the hatched area is the FERC regulated boundary associated with the dam.
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Waterways/permitFAQ
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Waterways/dredging
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Waterways/checklist/ExemptionChecklist-Riprap.pdf
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/lakes/plants
If there are questions that can’t be answered using the weblinks, feel free to reach out to Senior Water Management Specialist, Scott Koehnke at scott.koehnke@wisconsin.gov . Due to heavy workload and field season, a response may take several days so please refer back to FAQ on the webpage.
Specific questions related to the dam should be forwarded to the owner, City of Manawa and operator, Dwight Shanak.
Thank you.
Scott E. Koehnke
Senior Water Management Specialist, Enforcement & Compliance
Bureau of Waterways
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
647 Lakeland Road, Shawano, WI 54166
Phone: 715/526-4232
scott.koehnke@wisconsin.gov
We are committed to service excellence.
Visit our survey at http://dnr.wi.gov/customersurvey to evaluate how I did.
Press Release – November 11, 2024
On Wednesday, October 30th, Mayor Frazier, Council Member Ann Bonikowske, City employees Josh Smith and Logan Hass, along with Brandon Strelow Community Consultant, Joe Pingel P.E., and Troy Peterson P.E. from Cedar Corporation, the City’s Engineer, met with State Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara and State Representative Kevin Peterson to discuss replacement of the dam and potential funding opportunities through the State of Wisconsin. During the meeting Senator Cabral-Guevara and Representative Peterson requested an estimate for total project costs including demolition of the existing dam and construction of a new alternative so they can submit the project to the State Joint Finance Committee in an attempt to have costs allocated in the state’s next budget cycle.
The overall condition of the dam was reviewed, which has been determined by the City’s Engineer to be severely deteriorated and not structurally sound for long-term operation making replacement of the dam the City’s preferred option over repairs that would only provide temporary solutions.
Cedar Corporation is preparing an analysis for the City of Manawa Common Council to review the feasibility of replacing the hydroelectric dam with a new dam or spillway. The City Council will review the analysis provided and select their preferred alternative. The estimate for the chosen alternative will then be submitted to the State Joint Finance Committee by the end of March 2025.
Under the direction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources who are the regulatory bodies of the dam and waterway, the City of Manawa must stabilize eroded streambanks adjacent to the dam and immediately downstream to reduce impacts on water quality caused by erosion, prior to construction on the dam. Resulting from collaboration between Cedar Corporation and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the City is being awarded grant funding through the Emergency Watershed Protection Program that will cover up to 75% of the streambank stabilization construction costs that are estimated to be $560,000. Design on the project will begin in 2024 with construction anticipated to take place in winter or spring of 2025.
Members of the Manawa Common Council have been communicating with residents and officials of the Town of Little Wolf to discuss potential joint efforts to restore the Manawa Mill Pond where a number of Little Wolf citizens reside. The City of Manawa will continue to update the public when new information is available.
9/23/2024 – From Mayor Frazier’s desk….
On Monday, September 16th the Manawa Common Council voted to pursue a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture to stabilize the shoreline by the dam. The area of concern is the shoreline by Sturm Memorial Library and Kobussen.
The concern of the Wisconsin DNR Fish and Wildlife Department is that more silt may wash into the river and possibly harm any endangered species. If the USDA grant is approved the work could begin this fall or early winter.
Flood cleanup at Lindsay Park has been completed. There are still some building, field, and court repairs that will need to be done.
City officials have met with FERC, Wisconsin DNR, and the City’s engineer Cedar Corporation several times and anticipate more meetings in the future. There are still many hurdles to clear as the agencies have informed us that this will be a lengthy process.
To the Citizens of Manawa:
At the Common Council Meeting on July 22nd, the Council voted unanimously to return the Manawa Mill Pond to where it was prior to our flash flood on July 5th.
There are still many steps ahead of us, with more questions than answers. We are in the process of setting up a community meeting with the DNR Dam personnel and the DNR Fish and Wildlife personnel. As soon as we have a date and time, we will let the community know.
The Council and the Mayor ask that you please be patient as we expect this will be a long process. Thank you.
Mike Frazier, Mayor
If you have water or sewer damage inside your home due to the flash flooding on July 5, 2024 please fill out the City of Manawa Claim Form and submit to the City Hall. There is a possibility that the City’s insurance may reimburse you some funds. Forms will also be available at the Community Public Meeting on July 15, 2024. Click the picture below for a printable form
To the Residents of Manawa:
As cleanup efforts continue and Manawa returns to near-normal, I would like to thank the Waupaca County Emergency Management team, the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Dept., Wisconsin DNR, Wisconsin State Patrol, the Manawa Area Fire Department and EMS and over 160 fire and rescue personnel from neighboring communities, and of course the Manawa Police Dept., the DPW and the Clerk’s Office for coming to our aid this past Friday. I also would like to thank those involved offering use of buildings, transportation, food, supplies and water. The City appreciates all the help and support!
We may have lost our Rodeo this past weekend, but we did not lose a life and no one suffered a serious injury. All that has been damaged will take time and of course resources to replace. Patience will be the key.
We have met with the DNR, engineers from Cedar Corporation, Waupaca County Health Dept., and Emergency Government on next steps. It will take time and a lot of paperwork to approve all plans. Some temporary measures may be approved this fall.
There is a lot of false information about raising the gates on the dam. The gates were raised on the morning of July 5th based on the one-inch rain forecasted for our area. Mother Nature had different plans.
Due to the high volume of rain that fell in a very short period of time, run-off from upstream caused stumps, trees and grass islands to block portions of the dam, forcing water to run over the top of the dam. This made for a very dangerous situation. Emergency Government officials have stated that even if all gates were open, this incident would still have occurred because of the large amount of water and the force of additional pressure on the dam in such a short period of time.
I am asking residents of Manawa to remain strong and be patient; we will work to get Manawa back to normal as soon as humanly possible. Thank you.
Mayor Mike Frazier
City of Manawa 