MANAWA – The City of Manawa is moving ahead with plans to restore the local millpond and replace or rebuild the Manawa Dam, eyeing federal money to cover early-stage engineering and environmental work.
During a Common Council meeting last month, Alderman Jim Roenz said the Dam Committee submitted an application for community project funding through Rep. Tony Wied’s office. The request targets the high cost of preliminary studies needed before any construction decisions can be made.
Engineers estimate that technical work including hydrologic and hydraulic studies, floodplain analysis, soil borings, environmental reviews, and about 75% of the design work, will cost about $290,000. The city requested $215,000, or about 75% of that total, through the 2027 federal budget cycle.
Roenz said the preliminary phase, which prepares the city to issue requests for proposals and gather bids, is estimated to cost about $90,000. In addition to Rep. Wied’s office, the city plans to pursue federal assistance through U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin and related appropriations channels.
Roenz said there is no guarantee of an award.
“All we can do is keep trying, and it seems to be, the farther we look into things, there’s money. You just have to find a way to get them and get to them,” he said.
The committee is seeking a design that would both restore the pond and protect the health of the river downstream, he said. One option the committee favors is a structure that allows some water to flow under the dam rather than only over the top, a configuration he said can help keep water cooler and support a healthier river ecosystem.
The dam was originally constructed in 1920 and failed on the north embankment in July 2024 after heavy rainfall, causing the 180-acre Manawa Millpond to drain completely. The pond had been a popular spot for kayaking, fishing, boating and community events. The city restored the shoreline last year with a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant that covered more than 75% of the $400,000 cost.
Although the dam is city-owned, Wiscons8 LLC operated the hydroelectric facility at the time of the dam’s failure in 2024. The city is in the process of purchasing the parcel that housed the dam powerhouse from Wiscons8 for $57,500.
Clerk Logan Hass said the property sale has not yet been finalized, but is expected to close within the next couple of months. Once the sale is completed, the city will assume full control of the property and can move forward independently.
Under an intergovernmental agreement with the Town of Little Wolf, the city and town will jointly oversee reconstruction, financing, engineering, permitting, and construction of the dam.
Roenz said no construction decisions had been made as of last month.
“It is a decision that’s literally a 100-year decision, and hopefully even longer,” he said.
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