• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Lake neighbors encouraged by assistance

Photo

Photo by Dan Lassiter

A new water heater and furnace are up on concrete blocks to protect them from the rising groundwater that has kept Bob and Sharon Schrank's basement flooded since June. Regular pumping helps keep the water level at only a few inches, but the previous water heater and furnace were ruined by deep water. 12/12/08./ Lassiter

MILTON TOWNSHIP — Sharon Schrank is used to being in the spotlight for her work as a teacher, not for pumping thousands of gallons of water out of her basement each day.

But Schrank's home has become a symbol of the problems created by rising water at Clear Lake.

Lake neighbors say the water has risen as much as 6 feet since June. Several homes are surrounded by water, and the groundwater rushing to fill the lake also has invaded Schrank's basement.

Months after the water started its rapid rise, Schrank was shocked to find that few agencies or officials knew about the problem.

So she started calling them—government agencies, local politicians and local media. She and members of the Clear Lake Improvement Association have gotten the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the UW Extension and Rep. Paul Ryan's office to look into the issue.

Even though the group hasn't found solid answers to Clear Lake's problem, Schrank is relieved to see people paying attention.

"At least we're not hearing ‘no' all the time," she said. "A possibility is a whole lot nicer to hear than a ‘no.'"

Rob Davis, DNR water management engineer, looked at the lake Nov. 7 and offered three possibilities:

-- Pump the lake. Other seepage lakes have been pumped to lower water levels, but that might not work for Clear Lake, Davis said. The lake is at the bottom of a basin, so water would have to be pumped up and out at least a mile to the nearest tributary of the Rock River, he said.

-- Install high-capacity wells. The wells could draw water from underground springs and deposit it in the Rock River, Davis said. That would lower the groundwater that is causing Clear Lake to rise, but it would be expensive, he said.

-- Floodproof homes. Davis suggested homeowners raise their homes or fill in their basements if possible.

Schrank doesn't think she could raise her 100-year-old home, especially with the soggy ground underneath.

Still, she appreciates the work of Davis and Madeline Gotkowitz, associate professor with UW Extension's Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey. Gotkowitz spoke about Clear Lake's situation at a public meeting and said she is interested in doing more with lake neighbors.

Davis has recommended grants for which the community might be eligible, including lake-planning grants that would help experts learn more about the lake.

Davis and Gotkowitz said they're waiting to see what the lake association wants to do next.

Schrank, meanwhile, installed a larger pump in her basement last week that pumps 80 gallons of water a minute.

"We're doing the best we can, and that's about all I can do," she said.