FAQs

“Isn't this dam historic?”  

This is a very common belief, but it's a misconception. The Cedarburg Landmarks Commission requested historic designation for all the dams in 2003 from the Wisconsin Historical Society. The request was denied because the dams are not historic. The Woolen Mill dam we see today is the third dam at the location. It was built in 1939 by the City to create an impoundment for swimming - it wasn't built by the mill and didn't power the mill. The mill had switched to different power sources about 4 decades prior.

“Aren't the dam repairs/modifications mandated by the state?"

Only if a dam will remain. The city is only under the state's scrutiny, repair, and compliance orders because it chooses to be. Elected City officials have for many years given the impression that their hands are tied. This is not the case at all. The city has so far not done any research into dam removal or river restoration, and have even voted to prevent that information from reaching themselves and in turn, the residents.

"Isn't Cedarburg only here because of dams?"

This is a frequent claim by some local officials and residents, but it might be more accurate to say Cedarburg is here because of the river. It's very true that the early dams using the power of the river led to the growth of Cedarburg, but this Woolen Mill dam was not one of them. It never powered a mill or made any contribution to Cedarburg's establishment. None of the dams do anything anymore and are not historic. There is no reason to keep the Woolen Mill dam.

"Does this dam have economic importance to Cedarburg?"  

No. This is claimed sometimes but it's never explained. It's highly unlikely that visitors ever come to Cedarburg because the City owns an obsolete, non-historic dam. 

"Will there be 'mud flats' if the Woolen Mill dam is removed?"

Maybe for a couple weeks, depending on how the backed-up sediment is handled. If the sediment is removed first, then there would not be "mud flats." The restored current would scour down to the natural river bed, which no living persons has ever seen.

"How would river restoration create new economic growth?"

Obsolete dams prevent the economic growth gained by the recreation and tourism industries associated with restored rivers. The river in its current state is not an asset to our city, but a hindrance. A clean, usable waterfront is an asset. Cedarburg would be able to use our river as an additional attraction for relocating businesses, the development of new businesses, and the support of existing ones if it was restored. Unfortunately, local officials have thus far refused to learn about the positive possibilities. 

"Should all the dams be removed?"

Removing the Woolen Mill dam and the Ruck dam (near Rebellion Brewery) makes sense. They provide no service to anything. Removing the privately owned Wire & Nail dam (halfway between Hefner's and Sendik's) makes sense, too. Removing the Columbia Mill dam under Highland Road might change the size of the "Cedarburg Pond" but probably not as drastically as people think. It would be good to have an adequate portage for paddlers to get around it, which is extremely difficult right now.

"How much would it cost to remove the Woolen Mill dam?"

A lot less than trying to keep it. There is a lot of grant funding available for dam removal and it would likely not cost residents much of anything. We don't yet know the exact cost of modifying and keeping this dam, but it will be in the millions.

"What would the river look like if this dam was removed?"
It's likely that there is a natural waterfall and/or a cascade where this dam is located. We all like falling water and wouldn't lose that. It would just be natural.
We know what the river's width would be like because we have aerial photography from 1937 when there was not a dam there. (It failed in 1933.) The pink lines show the approximate channel with the dam removed. The blue lines show the current channel. (These maps are the result of a stream analysis completed by Grant Haynes (BSc, MSc) using historic stream flow data, imagery, and maps as well as modern imagery and stream bed data to model what Cedar Creek would look like without the Woolen Mill dam.)