Reinforced trail to be built across dike behind High School

"Cow paths" create dike integrity problems

The Decorah Community School has agreed to proceed with plans to build a reinforced trail across the dike behind Decorah High School.  Discussions with the Army Corps of Engineers has been going on for some time related to the possible loss of dike integrity due to "cow paths" across the dike from traffic to practice fields on the north side of the dike.

Although it sounds like a simple process the guidelines from the Corps make the engineering and construction more complicated than just making a gravel path. The trail, that will need to be constructed at an angle, and be about 8 foot wide, with 4 foot of edging, will involve about $14k in engineering fees and $20k in construction costs.

The practice fields behind the dike are on district property. Without the trail use of the fields would need to be stopped.