Babcock, La Follette Dams Closed For Upgrades

To increase boater safety and public fishing access in two county parks, Dane County is paying almost $1.5 million to restore two water dams, county officials announced on Friday.

Work has already begun Babcock and La Follette county parks? locks and dams. Much of the work will occur underwater where years of erosion has worn away concrete walls.

The project will also include updating dam or spillways gates used for water control, and installing barrier fencing to bring the facility up to safety code, officials said in a news release.

The construction sites are closed to public access during the project. Fishing opportunities will be limited to the shoreline areas adjacent to the dams.

“The construction may be inconvenient for some, but we?re confident citizens will enjoy the improved water recreation afterwards,” County Executive Joe Parisi said in a news release.

The project will be funded partially through a $500,000 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.