Reported first by the Jackson County Chronicle:Local officials are looking to move ahead with underwater additions to Wazee Lake to create more interest in diving. Jackson County’s forestry and parks committee has given the OK to research the feasibility of adding objects underwater that would make diving more enjoyable for those who use the lake. The move comes after the county last fall was approached by divers, who hope additions will create a better diving experience and help promote fish habitat.
“(The lake’s) best asset of not having much vegetation to cloud visibility is also its biggest disadvantage for natural fish habitat, so divers have seen a steady decline in fish over the years, and there isn’t much for divers to keep them motivated to return,” said Jeremy Cormican, who helps run Wazee Sports Center with father Keith. “Simply put, divers want to be entertained under water.
“Placing items will allow for fish habitat as well as give divers something to go find.”
Jon Schweitzer, assistant administrator of the forestry and parks department, said the county is in the midst of developing a preliminary plan to send to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, which must approve any underwater additions.
Wazee Lake, recognized as the deepest inland lake in Wisconsin, is known for its good diving conditions. It already has 10 wooden fish cribs that were installed in the mid 1990s and a wooden 20-foot boat added underwater in the mid-2000s.
The lake also has a variety of fish, including blue gills, trout, walleyes and small-mouth bass, and Schweitzer said the proposed plan hopes to provide a balance between items for divers and promoting good fish habitat.
“One of the things we’re focusing on is not only the diving aspect of it but also anything in there we want to use for fish habitat as well,” he said. “We’re trying to come up with a balance there – again with meeting (DNR) requirements.”
Jeremy, who noted Keith solicited and brought the wooden boat to the lake seven years ago, said the diving group is looking into acquiring military vehicles to put below water. Any items submerged underwater would be placed at strategic depths so divers of any proficiency will be able to see and utilize them, he said.
“The idea is to strategically place items at certain depths so most divers of varying levels can enjoy them. We definitely don’t want to sink several items at once,” Jeremy said. “We would like to start with a five-year plan to place one or two items a year so it creates a constant draw.
“Maintaining that divers continually come for years to come is vital to making this a sustainable project.”
Schweitzer said the county isn’t far enough into planning to consider costs, but he noted the interested divers likely will solicit items and take care of necessary funding.
The county also consulted with its insurance carrier after being approached by the divers to see if the county is liable for diving incidents that occur because items are underwater, Schweitzer said. The committee was informed there aren’t liability concerns related to the project, he said.
“We’ve cleared that hurdle,” he said. “Now it’s just a matter of putting a plan together for the DNR to look over.”
The DNR reviews permits for requests like submerging lake items, and the county’s proposal, if developed and submitted, likely would be require individual permit that requires public notices and a public informational hearing, according to DNR water management specialist Stacey Carlson.
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