Turtle Flambeau Flowage

Discussion 0 posts |  Only members can post. Join?

No topics have been posted yet.

About Turtle Flambeau Flowage

About this group:

This group is for photos taken on the Turtle Flambeau Flowage and in the Turtle-Flambeau Scenic Waters Area. Please post only photos related to this group. This is a family group so no nudity or pornographic photos allowed.


About the Turtle Flambeau Flowage:

Slip your boat into the water, take it out far enough to lose sight of the landing, and just look around. In a moment, you are surrounded by a natural treat of wild beauty: tall stands of pine and birch crowd the shoreline, a pair of loons dives in a quiet bay, and high overhead, a bald eagle circles. This is no fleeting moment. This view, these sounds will remain.

The rugged Turtle-Flambeau Flowage near Mercer in Iron County will remain in public ownership and public management. Its scenic beauty will not fall victim to fragmented development along its shores, and its wild character will be preserved for future generations to enjoy.

The Turtle-Flambeau Flowage was created in 1926 when the Chippewa and Flambeau Improvement Company built a dam on the Flambeau River downstream from its confluence with the Turtle River. The dam flooded 16 natural lakes and formed an impoundment of approximately 14,000 acres. The flowage was constructed as a reservoir to augment river flows and sustain hydroelectric plants operated downstream by electric utilities and paper mills. The dam also provided flood protection and created a unique recreational resource.

Many early resorts located around the 16 lakes were flooded and forced to move -- some chose higher ground, others left the area. As compensation for property lost when the flowage was built, property owners were offered money or adjacent land. Most chose a cash settlement and the shoreline today remains sparsely developed.

The flowage, in turn, attracted more tourists. What had been good fishing before became even better, and more people came to test the waters. New resorts opened to service the reinvigorated tourist trade.

Over the years these resorts have had many visitors, some of them notorious. John Dillinger frequented the area. Al Capone, the Chicago gangster, fished the flowage many times, especially in the years after his release from prison. Charlie Comiskey, founder of the White Sox baseball team, used Jerome's Hunting and Fishing Club on Trude Lake as a place for rest and relaxation for himself and his team.

In 1990 , the Stewardship Fund and gubernatorial support allowed the state to acquire 22,343 acres from Chippewa and Flambeau Improvement Company, including lands submerged by the flowage -- about 95 percent of the shoreline and adjacent lands. With additional acquisitions, state ownership now comprises approximately 27,000 acres including over 300 miles of shoreline and 195 islands.

The flowage is managed by the Department of Natural Resources using a master plan developed with citizen advice. Management practices aim to perpetuate the natural character of the shoreline, preserve its scenic qualities and protect its plant and animal communities. Managers strive to preserve the quality and wealth of outdoor recreation on the flowage including fishing, hunting, camping, nature observation, trapping, boating and canoeing.

Posted with permission from - www.turtleflambeauflowagewisconsin.info


Related Links:

Common Loon Migration Study - www.umesc.usgs.gov/terrestrial/migratory_birds/loons/migr...

Mercer Wisconsin - www.mercerwi.com

Mercer Chamber of Commerce - www.mercercc.com

Turtle-Flambeau Scenic Waters Area - dnr.wi.gov/org/land/facilities/turtleflambeau/index.html


Please add the following link to your comments:
_______________________________________________________

<b>As seen in:</b>
<a target="_blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/996612@N25/"
> Turtle Flambeau Flowage</a>
_______________________________________________________