High water levels in the Fox River system are negatively impacting Port of Green Bay shipping.
The conditions result from recent heavy rainfalls upon the 6,600 square mile Fox-Wolf watershed. Due to these conditions, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has opened the dam gates to release water from Lake Winnebago, creating these abnormal water flows on the Fox River, which terminal operators determined is not currently navigable for ships to dock.
The closure of the Port of Green Bay is resulting in millions of dollars of additional expense because vessels need to go to other ports where the cargo is then unloaded and hauled by truck back to Green Bay.
Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach has contacted federal legislators and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requesting alternative solutions to alleviate problems facing the Port of Green Bay and its terminal operators.
The Port and its terminal operators are requesting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reduce outflows at the Neenah and Menasha dams for a period each week to create a safe navigation window for ships to dock.
