ALMA, Wis. — There are more than 15,000 lakes and 84,000 miles of rivers and streams in Wisconsin.

Many of those rely on dams to control their water levels. So who is behind those controls?

In Buffalo County, in the little river town of Alma, Bobbie Roundy with the Army Corps of Engineers is engineering her own path.

With 21 years of experience with the corps of engineers, Roundy's earned her spot.

"I am the equipment repairman they call it, they change the title to woman for me," Roundy said. "Equipment repairwoman, the only one in the St Paul District."

At Lock and Dam Number 4 on the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi River, Equipment Repair woman Roundy, is the Jill of All Trades.

"There are so many different things electrical work, maintenance planning maintenance buying part so one day I could be outside all day the next day I could be inside all day. It's just such a variety," she said. 

"The focus of the Locks and Dams in the Corps of Engineers is the keeping the nine foot navigation channel for towboats to be able to pass safely," Roundy said. "Tow boatsll with 15 load loaded barges can significantly, transport, a lot more than a railcar our semi-trucks would and it saves wear and tear on the rail, our roads."

It's people like Roundy at the corps of engineers, at keeping Wisconsin's goods safely moving along the river.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - St. Paul District, is celebrating by opening the doors at Lock and Dam 4 to the public.

More info can be found here.

For boater safety information, click here.