Posted on June 24, 2026
LAKE ONALASKA, Wis. (WXOW) – A years-long effort to rehabilitate part of Lake Onalaska is now officially underway.
Crews from Schafer’s Marine Services have begun dredging near North Shore Lane as part of the North Shore Dredge Project, an initiative designed to improve fish habitat, maintain water depth and support the long-term health of the lake.
Over time, sediment has gradually accumulated in portions of Lake Onalaska, reducing water depth and limiting habitat for fish and other wildlife. After years of planning, fundraising and coordination among multiple agencies, the Lake Onalaska Rehabilitation Coalition is now working to reverse that trend.
“If you look at the dredging…there is a mechanical rotor that’s clicking up all of the sediments. It clicks up clay, it clicks up sand, it clicks up some of the rich nutrients,” said Jeff Fimreite, a board member for the Lake Onalaska Rehabilitation Coalition. “We’re going to try to bring it down to about eight feet deep—with sediment traps of 12 feet deep—and then on the shoreline about three feet deep. So, it will be sloping down to the shoreline.”
Fimreite said the sediment traps are designed to gradually collect future sediment buildup and are expected to be emptied every 10 to 15 years.
A primary goal of the project is to create deeper-water habitat for fish, particularly during the winter months when survival can become more challenging.
“The limiting factor for fish in Lake Onalaska is overwintering habitat,” said Marc Schultz, chairman of the Lake Onalaska Protection and Rehabilitation District. “It was the limiting factor when the lake was in good condition. The lake’s not in good condition, we’ve lost a lot of overwintering habitat. This project is to create some more overwintering habitat.”
Sediment removed from the lake is being pumped through a pipeline to nearby land provided by Metallics along North Shore Lane. The material is placed into large dewatering bags that separate the sediment from the water. The filtered water is then directed across a graded site and pumped back into the lake, while the remaining sediment is retained for future disposal or use.
According to Schultz, sediment removed from previous dredging projects has been used throughout La Crosse County, including in the construction of islands within the lake and during work on Highway 53.
Supporters say the benefits of the project extend far beyond fish habitat.
Fimreite said Lake Onalaska and the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge generate an estimated $307 million annually for the local economy through activities such as birdwatching, boating, paddling, hunting and fishing.
Project leaders also see the effort as a model for future restoration work across the lake. The coalition has partnered with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Wisconsin and Minnesota Departments of Natural Resources, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service—with several additional restoration projects already identified.
“I think the big thing is that it’s bringing all of these agencies together and we’re actually coming up with one common goal, which is ‘it’s going to take all of us working together to really make a difference,’” Fimreite said.
Fimreite said the lake is approaching what he described as a “tipping point.” Without continued restoration efforts, he said sediment accumulation could eventually transform much of the lake into marshland, significantly impacting recreation, wildlife habitat and the regional economy.
He noted more than 400 local jobs are tied directly to the lake and its recreational use.
The Lake Onalaska Rehabilitation Coalition has raised approximately $270,000 toward the project through county support, fundraising efforts and private donations. Organizers say they are still about $30,000 short of their fundraising goal for sediment removal.
The dredging project is expected to take approximately 12 weeks to complete.
For more information about the project or to make a donation, visit the Lake Onalaska Rehabilitation Coalition’s website.
