BURLINGTON, Wis. — Voters in Burlington will decide on Nov. 8 whether to save the Echo Lake and Dam or restore the river.
Echo Lake has stood as an important part of Burlington for nearly two centuries. However, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has informed the town that the dam that created the lake must be rebuilt or removed.
Yvette Louise has called Burlington home for most of her life. She wants to save one of the city’s most important symbols, Echo Lake and Dam.
“It’s the gateway to the city of Burlington, when you drive into Burlington," said Louise. "It kinda tells you are home. You see the lake and all is right in the world."
The dam was built in the 1830s to power the nearby flour and saw mills. It eventually created Echo Lake which stands today.
Louise said the dam helped build Burlington into what it is now. For her, one of the most important reasons to save Echo Lake and the dam is the community it brings.
“We have the Echo system. We have eagles, our egrets. We have fishing. People just come here to relax. You know when you are having a bad day. Walk through the park and everything seems so right,” said Louise.
Burlington Mayor Jeannie Hefty also supports saving the dam. She said if voters chose to save it there are several proposed upgrades for the structure. The goal is to preserve the dam for generations.
“The dam is going to be changed from one gate to three gates," explained Mayor Hefty. "It’s going to have an observation deck where citizens and visitors can go up there and stand even higher to see out to the lake and all of the wildlife. It’s going to be beautiful. We are going to make a berm that’s going to go along here. It’s going to help with what we call the spillway from the dam and this is all what the state wants from us."
In the opposite side of things, Alderman Shad Brannon is a proponent of removing the dam to restore the White River. He points out the dam hasn’t served its original purpose in decades and isn't sufficient in flood protection.
“By removing the lake, we have an opportunity to create trails and pathways and we will have some pedestrian bridges and potentially a Frisbee park or whatever but it will be a nature area,” said Brannon.
As he walked along the river, it reinforces for him why Echo Lake and Dam should be removed.
“The concept of a concrete barrier in the middle of a river is not good for anything. It’s fighting mother nature,” said Brannon.
Louise questions if removing the dam will benefit the river because determining its depth and flow would be impossible. She believes it would just turn Echo Lake into a swamp.
“This is 100% strictly from my heart. I want this lake and dam saved. We know what we have. We know the beauty it offers for the community. It should never be destroyed,” said Louise.
Both sides believe the main issue is about protecting the environment of the community.
For more about saving the dam, click here and restoring the river, click here.