(LEBANON) Communities along the Rock River and Lake Winnebago are getting new help to prepare for the next round of high water.
Gov. Tony Evers announced $2 million in flood resilience grants across Wisconsin. Among the communities receiving funding are the Town of Lebanon in Dodge County, the City of Watertown and the City of Fond du Lac, all of which have dealt with repeated flooding in recent years.
The Town of Lebanon will receive $18,225 to study why Rock River flood flows have been rising beyond historic levels and to evaluate options to reduce the impact. Local leaders hope the assessment will help explain what’s driving the higher water and what can be done before the next major flood hits.
Watertown will receive $133,575 to analyze water flow and hydraulic structures in the city and explore alternatives to costly storm sewer upgrades. The study is designed to pinpoint weak spots in the system and identify solutions that could better manage heavy rain and rising river levels.
Fond du Lac was awarded $123,750 to examine water flow and hydraulic structures and to analyze flood mitigation options. The goal is to better understand how water moves through the city and what changes could reduce damage to homes, streets and businesses.
The funding comes through the state’s Pre-Disaster Flood Resilience Grant program, created in 2024 and administered by Wisconsin Emergency Management. The program helps communities identify flood risks and plan projects such as stream restoration, floodplain reconnection and other natural solutions aimed at reducing damage before disaster strikes.
