JUNEAU — Streams and rivers remained above their banks and officials warned that they may not crest until later today.

A declaration of emergency was declared by Dodge County Board Chair Russell Kottke as a result of countywide flooding.

Dodge County Emergency Management has activated the Emergency Operation Center at 124 West St., Juneau.

The Dodge County Sheriff's Department and the Wisconsin State Patrol as well as numerous police departments are warning people to stay off closed roads and out of closed areas.

The most significant road closure was Highway 151 near Columbus where the rising waters of the Crawfish River forced the closure of both the northbound and southbound lanes early this morning.

Highway 151 is closed between the Highway 16-60 intersection to the crossroad of Highway 73. Traffic was being diverted through Columbus.

Officials also urged residents to get their wells tested once waters recede as high water can cause contamination to enter wells.

Waupun

A state of emergency was declared by Waupun Mayor Jodi Steger and Emergency Government Director Jeff Berry at 9 p.m. Sunday when the Rock River crested at two and a half feet above the flood level.

"We had water damage to basements," said Steger. "Thankfully most of it was groundwater coming up, and very little sewer water."

Steger said there was less damage done compared to the floods of 2004. She said the utilities and public works departments had been working since Sunday to keep the water flowing.

As of Monday morning, Spring Street, Highway 26 where it goes over the Rock River, and County Park Road were still closed.

Lowell

About 50 people throughout the day on Monday were at work in Lowell sandbagging the dam.

"We started sandbagging last night at 7 p.m.," Lowell Fire Chief Alan Pasewald said.

Sunday night's sandbagging was just a precaution as waters began to rise. However by 7 a.m. in the morning they realized that their action was a necessity.

"The water came up a foot by 7 a.m.," Pasewald said.
Firefighters from Lowell, Clyman, Reeseville, Beaver Dam and village residents assisted in filling the sandbags at the VFW with more than 88 tons of sand.
Rennhack Construction provided a hauling truck to get the sand and bring it to the dam.

"I don't know where they are getting it," Pasewald said. "I think they are grabbing it from wherever they can get it."

Pasewald said on Monday afternoon that he believed at that time that they were probably near the end of sandbagging operations.

"It depends on what the waters do," Pasewald said. "We don't know when it will crest."

Beaver Dam

Upstream from Lowell in Beaver Dam, the city began bypassing the culverts under Cooper Street with pumps provided by Schmidt's Pumping of Fox Lake. The effort was similar to 2004, when the city pumped water over the street in order to alleviate flooding.

Water levels on Beaver Dam Lake are high, but nowhere near the levels in 2004. City officials said that experience from dealing with the floods in 2004 came in handy for quickly assessing and responding to the rain over the weekend.

Randolph residents benefited from lessons learned following flooding in 2004 according to Peter Woreck, superintendent of the water and sewer department for the village.

"The storm sewer system is working good," said Peter Woreck on Monday morning. "There is no water on the streets."

Woreck said the park was full of water and there have been some problems with back-up of the sanitary sewer system.

He said the village began bypassing on Saturday at the sewer plant, and is using about eight pumps, two at the sewer plant and the rest in the village to move the water.

Mayville

Officer Tony Trunkel of the Mayville Police Department reported that barricades erected after weekend flooding were removed early Monday morning.

Several residents tried to drive through flooded streets and had to abandon their cars when they stalled in high water.

Mike Kurutz, director of Parks & Recreation, reported that there was substantial flooding and damage by the outdoor pool near Parkview Primary Learning Center.

Juneau has asked residents to conserve water for several days in order to avoid overwhelming the sanitary sewer system. The city recently approved a $1.16 million upgrade to its wastewater treatment system. Several pumps were damaged when water flooded the wastewater treatment plant, but officials said it could have been worse.

Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent Randy Schaefer said, "Local fire departments should be commended; they saved us at the lift station."
Pumps from Sensient Flavors and Town & Country Utility of Mayville also were used.

A release from Juneau officials asked residents to avoid washing clothes, take short showers, run dishwashers only when full and be sure sump pumps are not draining into floor drains.

Governor Doyle has declared a state of emergency for 30 counties due to severe storms and flooding. The counties include Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Green Lake and Jefferson.

Who to call

DODGE COUNTY

Dodge County Emergency Management has activated the Emergency Operation Center located at 124 West St., Juneau.

The EOC will be utilized to coordinate incoming and outgoing resources to assist with the flooding mitigation and recovery.

Citizens are asked to contact Emergency Management at the EOC hotline, (920) 386-4060, to report any flooding that may result in need for emergency response such as special medical needs or citizens that need assistance with evacuation.

Citizens should utilize the Web site, http://www.co.dodge.wi.us, to report damage or flooding to their residence or business. Citizens reporting damage will be notified for damage assessment.

Empty sandbags will be made available at the Dodge County Highway Department, 211 E. Center St., Juneau. Material for filling the sandbags should be coordinated with the local town chairman, village president, or mayor.

COLUMBIA COUNTY

Initial damage assessments of tornado, wind and flooding damages put the cost as more than $1 million, according to Columbia County Emergency Management. More than 125 homes were damaged.

If you have damage to report from flooding or the tornado, call 742-4166 ext. 1308 or 1309, and provide the following information.

— Name and address
— Phone number
— Type of damage (depth of water, wind-related damage, etc.)
— Estimated dollar amount of damage
— If covered by insurance

COLUMBUS

In Columbus citizens have been told to report property damage by stopping in at the Columbus Public Library, 223 W. James St., or calling 623-5910.

Those who need to report emergency situations related to flooding should call 623-5914.

WAUPUN

In Waupun, sandbags are available at the department of public works garage, 901 N. Madison St. Some are filled, but when those are out, residents can fill their own sandbags with the materials there. Those who have questions should call 324-7918.

More than 120 minimum-security supervised inmate workers have been deployed to the communities of Baraboo, Columbus, Soldiers Grove, Gays Mills, Monona, Fall River, Hustisford and Fond du Lac.

For updates go to madison.com/wsj and read tomorrow's State Journal.