County receives grant to assess culverts

Lincoln County has secured a surface water grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) 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 WDNR’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, helping identify which ones most urgently need replacement.
Tom Boisvert, Conservation Program Manager, explained that properly functioning culverts are crucial for both infrastructure and environmental health.
“One of the most important habitat improvements on many streams in the Northern Lakes and Forests is restoring stream connectivity,” states the WDNR’s Trout Management Plan. “Improperly placed culverts are often perched or set incorrectly leading to velocity barriers, depth issues, or ponding issues that impede fish passage.”

The Wisconsin River Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited has contributed $2,000 to support these efforts.
Failed culverts can cause road washouts, create ongoing maintenance costs for taxpayers, and damage local streams that support fishing and recreation. This project aims to prevent these problems while creating opportunities for cost-sharing with townships to repair or replace problem culverts.
The Land Services Department will host a workshop to share findings and help municipalities learn about building more resilient and environmentally friendly stream crossings with representatives from Trout Unlimited, DATCP, and the WDNR’s Environmental Analysis Program available to offer insights on proper culvert placement, construction practices, and potential cost-sharing opportunities.