Story originally printed in the Tomah Journal or online at www.tomahjournal.com
Published - Friday, June 13, 2008
Tomah spared worst of storms
The Tomah area saw heavy weekend rains and thunderstorms on Saturday, causing high water in Lake Tomah, several cases of water in people’s basements and some local trail flooding. But it could have been worse.
Tomah missed the brunt of the rains that have devastated areas to the south. Towns in Vernon County and southern Monroe County were hit by rainfall totals that rivaled the flood of last August.
“We fared pretty good,” Tomah Public Works Director Ken Patterson said. “I don’t know of any major damage or washouts. If you go down to Ontario, Gays Mills, they are totally devastated. We are lucky so far.”
Patterson said that the south end of Tomah received nearly five inches of rain last weekend.. He also said that work at the dam on Lake Tomah was around the clock all weekend to avoid potential flooding.
“We were working on (the dam) some on Friday night and on Saturday until Monday morning around 8 a.m.,” Patterson said. “We had someone there the whole time, and (the water) started to slowly go down.”
Several pedestrian walking trails were reportedly flooded over the weekend, but Patterson said that the trails are clear of water and were not damaged.
“As far as we know, the trails are fine,” Patterson said. “The Recreation Department checked them. We just don’t need any more rain.”
In areas to the south and other parts of western Wisconsin, the state Department of Natural Resources has warned that the storms may have caused private wells to become contaminated with flood waters, the state Department of Natural Resources said.
Well owners should treat their wells prior to use if their well is known or even suspected of being overtopped by floodwater. Owners whose wells become flooded need to have the well tested before resuming use of the water. Floodwater can contain bacteria and waste contaminants that threaten water supplies. Wells located in pits and basements are especially susceptible to contamination.
Any water supply system which has been overtopped by flood waters should be thoroughly disinfected and then tested to determine water safety. This work is best performed by licensed well drillers or pump installers.
The weekend downpour also caused crop damage for farmers in western Wisconsin, and the closing of hundreds of roads in Vernon County. As western Wisconsin begins to clean up after the second 100-year flood to occur in 10 months, the possibility of more rain is in the forecast today.
All stories copyright 2006 Tomah Journal and other attributed sources.