Local funding will keep Turkey River gauge at Spillville in operation

The Winneshiek County Emergency Management Department, Winneshiek County, the City of Spillville and the City of Fort Atkinson have joined forces in an effort to keep the river gauge on the Turkey River at Spillville operational. 

The US Geological Survey lost their funding for 16 river gauges across the state of Iowa, which meant the gauge in Spillville was scheduled to be shut down on June 30th.

The USGS has enough funding in reserve to fund 40 percent of the annual cost of the Spillville river gauge.  Now the four area governments have pledged to come up with the other 60 percent--$8,960--to keep the Spillville river gauge operational. 

Says Winneshiek County Emergency Government Director Sean Snyder, "The Spillville river gauge is vital to the overall preparedness of the southern part of Winneshiek County, not only for the people in Spillville but all of the Winneshiek County residents downstream."

Snyder says he will continue to work with the National Weather Service to include the Spillville river gauge in the NWS's river level prediction network.