Drought in Northern Wisconsin

This week we examine the effects of drought on our north woods lakes, reservoirs, rivers and ecosystems. Eight years of reduced rainfall have left some of northern Wisconsin’s best known fishing lakes and reservoirs several feet below normal, adversely affecting the tourist economy, the health of surrounding forests, and in some cases well water.

Guests will be Jim Bishop, public affairs manager with the Department of Natural Resources and Sam Morgan, vice-president of operations for Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company. Bishop is responsible for much of the state’s lakeland region north of Marathon County. Morgan’s company regulates the water level of the flowages connected to the Wisconsin River system, and has to deal every day with homeowners and recreational users alarmed at the effects of the ongoing drought.