Baraboo River Restoration—30 Years since Dam Removal

Beverly Vallancourt will cover the Dam history of the Baraboo River from 1846 when the first dam was constructed to 2001 when the last dam was removed, giving the Baraboo River it's national significance as the longest stretch (120 miles) of river ever returned to it's natural, free-flowing condition. Highlights include the controversial fights over the Baraboo Waterworks Dam removal in 1994, which created the domino effect to continue removing the private dams from La Valle all the way to the Glenville Dam downstream of Baraboo. The video, "Running Free: The Baraboo River Restoration Story" ( ), prepared in 2021 to commemorate the 20 year anniversary of the last dam being removed, will be highlighted, including the improved fishery habitat, paddling opportunities, river access, Riverwalk connections, collaborative partnership, and scientific studies of river restoration. Bev will describe the creation of the Friends of the Baraboo River and their ongoing efforts to promote the appreciation and stewardship of the river through education, outreach, and community involvement.

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