Lincoln County awarded DNR grant to assess culverts

LINCOLN COUNTY – The Lincoln County Land Services Department has received a surface water grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to assess culvert crossings.

This grant marks the beginning of an important initiative to evaluate public culvert crossings, with a three-phase project planned to cover the entire county.

Using the DNR’s Surface Water Data Viewer (SWDV), 573 culvert crossings have been identified across Lincoln County. The awarded grant will allow the County to begin Phase 1, which will assess 244 crossings in the Townships of Birch, Harrison, King, Merrill, Pine River, Russell, Schley and Skanawan.

Crossings will be prioritized based on the Great Lakes Stream Crossing Inventory protocols, which consider factors such as stream constriction, erosion, fish passability and the condition of the culverts.

This data will help the Land Services Department identify the culverts in most need of replacement.

This project is a critical step toward ensuring the resilience of Lincoln County’s infrastructure. By assessing these crossings and sharing the findings with local towns, cities and the Highway Department, the Land Services Department aims to foster collaboration and informed decision-making that directly benefits our communities.

The project also creates opportunities for cost-sharing to replace or repair high-priority culverts, supporting financial sustainability and efficient use of resources. Through the Soil & Water Resource Management (SWRM) Program, the Land Services Department will provide design and financial assistance to participating townships, with support from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).

As part of the project, the Land Services Department will provide municipalities with valuable information on building more resilient and environmentally friendly stream crossings. A final report detailing the project’s goals, methods and results will be published, and a workshop will be held to share these findings with participants. At the workshop, attendees will learn how to build more resilient crossings, and representatives from Trout Unlimited, DATCP and the DNR’s Environmental Analysis Program will offer insights on proper culvert placement, construction practices and potential cost-sharing opportunities.

Culvert failures can lead to severe environmental consequences, including sedimentation, nutrient introduction and the destruction of in-stream habitats. In some cases, frequent road over-topping and erosion cause gravel bars to form downstream from crossings. This project aims to provide municipalities with data and technical support to help reduce the risk of recurring failures and environmental degradation.

The DNR’s Trout Management Plan emphasizes the importance of restoring stream connectivity for healthy trout populations and states, "One of the most important habitat improvements on many streams in the Northern Lakes and Forests is restoring stream connectivity. Many northern stream reaches do not contain all the necessary habitat for all life stages of trout, and seasonal migration is very important to maintaining healthy trout populations. Improperly placed culverts are often perched or set incorrectly, leading to velocity barriers, depth issues or ponding issues that impede fish passage."

In recognition of the importance of this project, the Wisconsin River Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited has generously contributed $2,000.00 to support these efforts.

This comprehensive project will not only improve the county’s infrastructure, but also contribute to the long-term health of local ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.

For more information on this project, contact Tom Boisvert, Conservation Program Manager, at 715-539-1054 or via email at thomas.boisvert@co.lincoln.co.wi.