Rivers
- News
Columbia County Floodwaters Drop, Emergency Operations Center Winds Down
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced that floodwaters in the Portage area continue to recede and are predicted to drop further over the next several days. The DNR will continue to monitor water levels as the Columbia County Emergency Operation Center returns to normal operations and damages are assessed.
- News
Flood Waters Begin To Recede At Portage; Road Closures Remain, Well Water Testing Offered
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced the Wisconsin River at Portage peaked at 20.47 feet in the afternoon yesterday, April 16, 2026, nearly reaching the highest water level on record of 20.66 feet. While the river level did not set a new record and currently rests at 19.9 feet, it did impact several areas of the Caledonia-Lewiston levee, prompting the evacuation of the Blackhawk neighborhood, and raised enough concern to sandbag a 2-mile stretch of I-39 at the Highway 33 exit.
- News
Historic Flooding Of Wisconsin River Threatens Portage Community; Critical Infrastructure At Risk
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced that local officials are responding to historic flooding along the Wisconsin River as water levels continue to rise, placing significant strain on levee systems and threatening to breach in the Portage area. There is concern regarding the integrity of the Caledonia Levee, south of Highway 33 near Blackhawk Park.
- News
Wisconsin River Rising In Columbia County; DNR Continues To Monitor
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced that as of 12:45 p.m. today, April 16, the Wisconsin River is at 19.85 feet, major flood stage and is continuing to rise. The National Weather Service predicts the river to crest at 21.0 feet tomorrow, April 17, at 7 a.m.
- News
DNR Monitoring Portage-Area Levees Due To Rising Flood Levels
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced that the Wisconsin River is expected to rise to major flood levels in the Portage area on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
- News
Water Flow Improvement Project At Sam Gordy’s Slough To Begin In June
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced construction activities will begin at Sam Gordy’s Backwater Complex on June 9, 2025. The project will improve fish habitat by restoring flow with the main Mississippi River channel and improving water quality.
- News
Lower Wisconsin Riverway Receives International Designation
The Lower Wisconsin Riverway is now recognized as a Wetland of International Importance by the United States and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
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Aquatic Communities
Wisconsin has a large and diverse aquatic resource that supports numerous species, communities, ecological processes and human uses. In addition, many terrestrial species and processes are dependent on neighboring aquatic systems. The aquatic…
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Wisconsin’s Riverine and Lake Natural Communities
Protecting and preserving riverine and lake natural communities are important to the environment and economy of Wisconsin. New scientific findings have identified distinct "natural communities" into which different types of streams, rivers and lakes…
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Managing Wisconsin’s Rivers
Under state and federal law, the DNR conducts water planning and master planning for natural areas and forests, implements regulations and secures special designations to protect, maintain or restore river resources. Designation of Wild Rivers…