There is a system of locks that allows boaters to get from the Lake Winnebago waterway though Menasha and up the Fox River to the bay of Green Bay. Once in Green Bay you can navigate the Great Lakes and get to the rest of the world via water.
Appleton Fox lock photo curtsy of gwo-main.com
At one time this system of 17 locks allowed commercial traffic to continue upriver through additional locks and connect to the Wisconsin River then to the Mississippi River. This provided a much needed waterway link from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River. However with the development of the railroad system and the development of other lock systems the commercial traffic has ceased long ago.
Construction of the Fox lock system began in the 1840’s. Due to a lack of funds all but the remaining 3 operational locks were closed in the early 1980’s.
The Fox lock system presently has the first lock in Menasha and the last two locks from Rapid Croche down river to the bay of Green Bay in operation from mid May through the boating season. With the passage of many years of non-use many of the locks are in need of repair.
In 2000 the state of Wisconsin agreed to take over the locks to prevent the system from being abandoned by the army corps of engineers. The state received $11.8 Million with a pledge for an additional $5.6 Million for restoration of the lock system.
With the commercial traffic gone the focus is on tourism and riverfront development. In 1995 an economic impact study was done and this study estimated the re-opening of the lock system would generate a $74 Million annual positive economic impact. With inflation this number should be even higher today.
The ‘private donation’ funding needed to complete this project to re-open and operate the lock system is over ˝ way to the goal of $6 Million. The Friends of the fox
http://www.friendsofthefox.org/ is working to raise funds to re-open the lock system and ensure operation for the future. To protect the Winnebago water system of invasive species they plan to build a barrier at Rapide Cronche.
The Friends of the fox
http://www.friendsofthefox.org/ will be holding a meeting to give a status update on the project to re-open the lock system. This meeting will be held April 29, 2006 at Waverly Beach starting at 5:00 PM. Waverly Beach, N8770 Fire Lane 1, Menasha, WI 54952.
