Lakeside Park in Fond du Lac will undergo a renovation when it comes to the water ways. The park features a series of channels and lagoons which flow through the park, creating Oven Island. Over the years the channels have naturally filled in with silt and sediment, making boat navigation nearly impossible. Originally the plan was for an October Start, but now may be delayed until December.
The impact of the “too shallow for passage” channels is that the Mercury National Walleye Tournament has had to move weigh in locations to the main harbor, eliminating the highly popular Oven Island weight in area. In addition, several launch areas are unusable as navigation to the main lake is impossible. .
The channels which are used by shore fishermen, are not as viable for holding fish populations as in the past, and parts of the channel system are so shallow, it no longer hosts any fish. In some locations the depth of the channel is approximately 1-2 feet deep.
The dredging project will slated to start in late October, and will conclude by March, with a hard deadline set by the Department of natural resources. The plan is to clean out the sediment creating an eight foot channel, with a gradual slope. This will require the channels to be essentially drained of water to accomplish.
The remaining sediment is to be moved to UW Fond du Lac, for use on their property, rumored to be a sledding hill.
