Fox–Wisconsin Waterway

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the canal by 1838. About the same time, Congress had the Corps of Engineers (Corps) review the situation. It was recognized that the work would not only include a canal at Portage, but improvements along the length of both rivers between their mouths and the canal. In 1837 and 1839, the Corps examined the waterway's feasibility and recommended a "slack-water" (lock and dam) system. After numerous memorials from the territorial legislature, Congress authorized a land grant for the waterway project in 1846. There were various private companies formed to promote and build the Waterway; besides the Summit Portage company, there were the Fox and Wisconsin Improvement and the Green Bay and Mississippi Canal Companies. In 1872, the Corps assumed supervision of the waterway.

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and property in Kaukauna, and the harbors of Stockbridge and Brothertown on Lake Winnebago to the State of Wisconsin. The Fox River Navigational System Authority was formed and a cost-sharing agreement was created. Funds from the Army Corps of Engineers, the State of Wisconsin, and private donations have combined to rehabilitate, reopen, and maintain the locks. While the locks on the entire Lower Fox (with the exception of Rapide Croche) have been restored and are capable of operation, some remain closed to navigation. The Menasha lock is closed to prevent movement of the

640: 295:, prompted various groups to look for improvements to the Waterway. In fact, there was great speculative pressure to capitalize on the natural extension of the Erie Canal to the Mississippi and beyond. Into the 1850s, most products from the Midwest traveled the long journey down the Mississippi and east from New Orleans. This shipment was expensive, absorbed farmers' profits and retarded economic growth. Promotion of the Portage Canal pointed to the economic advantage of a direct waterway connecting the Great Lakes to the Mississippi to spur local economic growth. 159:

flowed across the Portage into the Fox during high water. The Fox and Wisconsin have modified their courses and outlets over geological time and it is likely that either river has flowed into either watershed. Only about 2 miles (3.2 km) separate the two rivers. The Fox River end of the canal is at about elevation 780 feet (240 m) msl. The Wisconsin River end is slightly higher, depending on Wisconsin River discharge levels. The Portage lies about 116 river miles (187 km) from the Mississippi River and 162 river miles (261 km) from

609: 454: 380: 17: 104: 450:. The Wisconsin side of the canal was impacted by floods and sand bars from the Wisconsin. The Canal and Fox River approaches required dredging. In 1959, the Corps closed and dismantled most of the Fort Winnebago Lock to create a waste weir for water-level control. With a limited number of changes, it converted the Portage Lock to a water control structure. In 1961, the ownership of the canal was transferred from the Department of Army to the State Of Wisconsin. 515: 179:. The river drainage area grows significantly in size from 80 square miles (210 km) at the Portage to about 1,340 square miles (3,500 km) at USGS gage 004073500 at Berlin, where the average flow is about 1,140 cubic feet per second (32 m/s). The river discharge would grow at nearly the same proportions. Thus the Upper Fox grows from a small stream to a small river over its course. At Big 197:(176 m), msl at Green Bay. The reach has a very steep and changing grade. While the hydraulic gradient averages about 4 feet per mile (0.75 m/km), there are very large falls at (using the original French nomenclature) La Grand Kaukilin (Kaukauna), La Petite Chute (Little Chute) and La Grand Chute (Appleton). The total drop of these falls is approximately the same as 405:

completed 157 dams totaling over 76,000 feet (23 km), mainly in two sections: between Portage and Prairie du Sac and between Lone Rock and Boscobel. But the wing dams also proved inadequate and steamboats were not willing to risk the passage. In 1887, the Corps recommended to stop this method of improvement, effectively closing the Lower Wisconsin to commercial traffic.

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portages between the Great Lakes and Mississippi watersheds. From the Portage, one could travel north to nearly Lake Superior along the Upper Wisconsin River, west to the Mississippi along the Lower Wisconsin River, or northeast along the Fox River to Lake Michigan. Other watersheds, such as the Wolf River to north central Wisconsin or the

576:"seeks to protect and preserve the scenic beauty and natural character of the river valley, seeks to manage the resources of the area for the long-term benefit of the citizens of the state and seeks to provide a quality public recreational area in a manner consistent with the resource and aesthetic protection goals and objectives" 92:. Use of the waterway was never substantial and it slowly died out. The Portage Canal was closed in 1951 and most of the Upper Fox River locks and dams fell into disuse. The lock system on the Lower Fox River, from Lake Winnebago to Green Bay, was closed in 1983 to prevent the upstream spread of invasive species such as the 624:

All of the locks along the Lower Fox have been placed on the National and State Register of Historic Places. Since 1983 efforts were made to save the locks from permanent closure. In 2001, the Army Corps of Engineers transferred ownership of the 17 locks that make up the Lower Fox River, Corps Office

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The goal of the Wisconsin DNR is to restore the Upper Fox to a more natural state. All locks except for the most downstream at Eureka have been abandoned or removed. The dam at White River was removed in 2004. Plans are to remove all dams, except for those at Princeton and Montello downstream of Lake

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Over time, the dams and locks were improved, combined and updated. In the end 17 locks were constructed, each with about 10 feet (3.0 m) of lift. Each lock was 140 to 150 feet (43–46 m) long and 35 feet (11 m) wide. Dredging was required on many of the short canals and slack-water

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Initially traffic—primarily steamboats, tugs, and barges carrying primarily lumber, coal, and grain—was sufficient for operations. In 1867 the Corps reported that "he country between Berlin and Portage is almost entirely dependent on the river for transportation". But the impact of railroads was soon

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takes its rise in Lake Sarah, Portage county, and runs in a direction a little south of west ... towards the Wisconsin, as if with the intention of entering that river but owing to some unaccountable freak of nature, it here, when within one and a half miles of that stream, makes a sudden turn to the

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Along the Lower Fox, Martin organized several groups to work on the task of building dams, locks and canals to bypass the numerous falls. The chief technical difficulty was the construction of locks and dams to lift vessels to Lake Winnebago. The dams began at De Pere and continued to Lake Winnebago

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In the mid-19th century, the waterway was improved with numerous locks, dams and canals, including the 2-mile-long (3.2 km) Portage Canal between the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers. All the locks were not completed until 1876, well after the Illinois and Michigan Canal and at the point where the move

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In the end, the Fox–Wisconsin Waterway did not become the natural extension of the Erie Canal. There were two technical problems that were not effectively solved for the Waterway: control of the sand bars of the Lower Wisconsin and the low flow of the Upper Fox. Economically, the Waterway failed to

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Travel and commerce on the Lower Fox proved to be the most profitable of all reaches. Boats carried passengers, mail and a host of products. The total tonnage along the Fox Waterway remained between 150,000 and 300,000 tons through the early 1930s. Local industry along the river, using the power of

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We left This bay to enter the river that discharges into it; it is very beautiful at its Mouth ... But, after ascending the river a short distance, it becomes very difficult of passage, on account of both the Currents and the sharp Rocks, which Cut the Canoes and the feet of Those who are obliged

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Along the Upper Fox, only dredging was initially performed. Over time, several dams and locks were added. In the end 7 stone locks, each with about 5 feet (1.6 m) of lift, were constructed at Governor's Bend, Montello, Grand River, Princeton, White River, Berlin and Eureka. Each lock was about

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The upper Fox River flows northwest from its headwater to within 2 miles (3 km) the Portage. It then flows to the north-northeast to the Lake Winnebago Pool. It extends about 110 river miles (177 km) from Portage to Lake Winnebago, falling only about 36 feet (11 m) from elevation 782

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The lower Wisconsin River flows through glacial drift until it enters the Driftless Area and eventually reaches the Mississippi River. It extends about 116 river miles (187 river kilometers) from Portage to its confluence with the Mississippi River, falling 171 feet (52 m) from about elevation

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Current efforts are to restore the Portage Locks as a historical artifact. The Canal has been placed on the National and State Register of Historic Places through the efforts of the Portage Canal Society, Inc. In 1983, the downtown corridor between Adams Street and the Wisconsin River was restored

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Downstream of the Prairie du Sac Dam at dam, the Wisconsin is un-dammed for 93 miles (150 km) to its confluence with the Mississippi, one of the longest such stretches in the eastern United States. It is a popular canoe and small craft recreational area. Most of its course is within the Lower

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The earliest improvements along the Fox–Wisconsin Waterway began with a canal and lock at Portage. In 1829, Morgan Martin founded the Summit Portage Canal and Road Company to build the Portage canal. Chronically short of funds and impacted by depression in the 1830s, the company failed to complete

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French traders dominated the Waterway. They set up forts or settlements at La Baye (Green Bay), Portage (eventually Fort Winnebago), and Prairie du Chien. Their influence is apparent from the remaining place names and features: Prairie du Chien, Portage, De Pere, and Lake Butte des Morts to name a

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The lower Fox River flows from the natural impoundment of Lake Winnebago to Lake Michigan. It extends about 39 river miles (63 km) from Menasha at the head of Lake Winnebago to Lake Michigan, falling 169 feet (52 m) from about elevation 746 feet (227 m), msl at Winnebago to 577 feet

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and in the northern Indiana area. What is unique is that, while the Fox is a small stream—typical of such passages—the Wisconsin is a large river, already over 300 miles (480 km) long. The divide between the two rivers has little grade change, although it is marshy. The Wisconsin occasionally

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By 1922 dredging halted, as annual traffic was only about 1000 short tons (1000 metric tons). That same year, the Corps report recommended closing the Upper Fox, but Congress failed to act on the proposal. The Corps finally closed the Upper Fox to navigation between Portage and Eureka in 1951 and

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Construction initiated along the Portage Canal in 1849 and finished in 1851. In 1856, the first steamship from the Mississippi, the Aquila, passed through the Portage on its way to Green Bay, signaling the opening of the waterway. The lock and canal were improved several times, culminating in the

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Even here, however, railroads dominated transportation. Traffic declined sharply. In 1983, the entire system was put into "caretaker" status and the Federal government stopped all maintenance. The state of Wisconsin operated the locks through the 1987 navigation season. After the 1987 navigation

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Dredging was mandatory given the low flow of the Upper Fox. By 1899, dredging had created a 6-foot (1.8 m) deep channel to Berlin, a 4-foot (1.2 m) deep between Berlin and Montello, and a 3-foot (0.9 m) deep channel to the Portage. But the river soon filled with silt when dredging

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The reach has nearly uniform hydraulic gradient of about 1.5 feet per mile (0.3 m/km). There is only one major tributary, the Kickapoo River, which enters just before the Mississippi at about River Mile 16 (River km 26). Since there are no major tributaries, river discharge in the reach are

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Along the Lower Wisconsin there were initially no plans for improvements other than dredging and the clearing of snags. This soon proved to be inadequate. In 1868, the Corps began to experiment with wing dams and dredging to sluice out a 6-foot (1.8 m) deep channel. By 1880, the Corps had

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The Wisconsin River is a wide and shallow stream running over a bed of sand with transparent waters and chequered with numerous small islands and sandbars ... The navigation of the river is considerably impeded by the sandbars and small islands and some time is lost is searching for the proper

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The reach served as a highway for Native American peoples and, later, European explorers and fur traders both indigenous and European. They used the Fox and Wisconsin rivers as a primary highway between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River. In fact, it was the most heavily traveled of all the

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felt. Travel and commerce on the Lower Fox declined by the 1880s to a few hundred tons of wheat per month during harvest. By this time most produce could be transported more easily by railroad. Except for a reprise during World War I, by the early 20th century most traffic was pleasure craft.

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region eventually forced Fox and Sac tribes to the region, displacing the original tribes. The Fox and Sac, realizing the importance of the Waterway, set up toll stations at portage locations. The French, resentful of lost trade, engaged the Fox in a series of wars known as the

636:. A boat lift and transfer station have been proposed to allow navigation through the entire Lower Fox River Navigational System. This transfer station would include measures to cleanse the boats of aquatic invasive species when traveling upstream into the Winnebago Pool. 548:

season, canals were drained and lock gates were permanently sealed. The lock at Rapide Croche was sealed shut to prevent sea lampreys from reaching Lake Winnebago. Recently, the system has been undergoing a refurbishment with plans to make navigation a reality again.

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The Fox-Wisconsin is no longer used as a transportation route between the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes. However, the various reaches of the waterway enjoy significant recreational use. Plans are well advanced for reopening the Lower Fox locks and dams.

629:, an invasive species, into Lake Winnebago. An electric fish barrier is proposed to allow the lock to reopen. The Kaukauna locks are closed to navigation for 35 years until 2021 when repairs to Veterans Memorial Lift Bridge were completed by City of Kaukauna. 124:

Overall the system is about 280 miles (450 km) long. It begins in the west at the Mississippi River, rises at a nearly constant rate to Portage, crosses the Great-Lakes/Mississippi River divide at Portage, descends slowly along the Upper Fox to the Lake

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it is joined from the north by flow from the Wolf River through Lake Poygan. The drainage area of Wolf River is more than twice the size of the drainage area of the Fox. But this extra flow joins the Fox only after it reaches the Lake Winnebago Pool.

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Lock and Dam in 1856 commissioned by Martin. Drawn by Samuel M. Brookes and Thomas H. Stevenson, they were part of a group paintings of river town sites and locks for the Fox-Wisconsin River Improvement Co. The view is approximately from the present

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construction of a concrete structure in 1928. There was a guard lock on the Wisconsin (Portage Lock) and a lifting lock to lower boats to the Fox (Fort Winnebago Lock). Each lock was 140 feet (43 m) long and 35 feet (11 m) wide.

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transferred it to the state as a recreational waterway. It modified dams to maintain water levels appropriate for wildlife preservation. The federal government quitclaimed its property along the Upper Fox to the State in 1961.

536:(La Petite Chute) and Holland. By 1850, Martin's company had folded and was taken over by the State of Wisconsin. The Lower Fox locks and dams were completed by 1856, with the completion of the Little Chute and Menasha Locks. 531:

Martin began construction in 1830. His promotions for laborers reached Europe and had the direct impact of promoting immigration directly to the area. Irish settlers settled the town of Wrightstown. Dutch settlers founded

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The river channel is characterized by sand, silt and organic material. The channel, which ranges from 70 to 300 feet (20–90 m), is shallow and generally widens and deepens as it approaches Lake Winnebago.

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The 2-mile (3.2 km) portage at Portage, Wisconsin is not unique as a passage between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River watersheds. Similar passages exist all along the watershed divide, for instance, at

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Puckaway and Buffalo Lake, respectively. The dam at Eureka has been converted into a fishway to allow spawning fish to migrate upstream, although the locks continue to operate.

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The reach has a shallow grade. The hydraulic gradient averages about 4 inches per mile (0.06 m/km). There are two very shallow lakes along the way, Buffalo Lake and

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There are no major tributaries. Thus the river discharge is nearly constant, averaging about 4,600 cubic feet per second (130 m/s) at USGS gage 040851385 at Green Bay.

1942: 275:, after which the American government was in firm control. The Fox were not totally displaced from the Waterway until 1832, when American troops forced them out during the 116:

The Waterway can be divided into four physical reaches: the Lower Wisconsin River, "The Portage" canal and locks at Portage, the Upper Fox River and the Lower Fox River.

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at Menasha. The greatest concentration of locks was in the reach between Kaukauna to the Cedars, where the Great Kauklin and La Petite Chute falls had to be bypassed.

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Eventually, as in other parts of the Waterway, traffic dropped off and generally included only pleasure craft. By 1900 there was virtually no traffic to the east to

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The river channel is dominated by sand. Sand bars, tow-head islands and new, multiple channels form often and constantly change. The channel is wide and shallow.

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The earliest French explorers were Father Marquette and Joliet in the summer of 1673. The French controlled the area for roughly 100 years until the end of the

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There is little likelihood that commercial freight traffic will return to this reach. Recreational boats, and commercial tour boats, use the locks regularly.

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The Fox River is a very crooked stream, but the scenery along the way is beautiful. We traveled many miles to get through a short space of country.

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Plan of Fox Wisconsin Waterway from Prairie du Chien on the Mississippi River along the Wisconsin River through the Portage to the Upper Fox.

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The following list of features are provided for the current waterway, from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River east to west:

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few. In fact, property in parts of Prairie du Chien, Portage, Kaukauna and Green Bay, all along the Waterway, still use French

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from canals to railroads was in full swing. Later development on the waterway introduced barriers to navigation, such as the

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with City of Portage and Block Grant funds. In 1987, the south bank of the canal became part of the National Ice Age Trail.

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in 1848 and the arrival of railroads. The western terminus of the Fox–Wisconsin Waterway was at the Mississippi at

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relatively constant, averaging about 8,700 cubic feet per second (250 m/s) at USGS gage 05407000 at Muscoda.

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the various falls, provided a steady market for goods. Regular steamboat travel continued until the 1900.

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782 feet (238 m) above sea level (msl) at Portage to 611 feet (186 m), msl at the Mississippi.

65: 61: 53: 268: 1706:"Glacial Lakes Wisconsin And Oshkosh—Two Very Different Late-Glacial Ice-Marginal Lakes In Wisconsin'" 1596: 581:

Upstream of the dam, Lake Wisconsin is one of several large lakes popular with boaters and fishermen.

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Fox River Waterway, Extending from Menasha to De Pere to Green Bay, Kaukauna, Outagamie County, WI

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Longitudinal Cross section of Fox Wisconsin Waterway from Prairie du Chien to Green Bay, Wisconsin

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There is little likelihood that commercial traffic will return to this reach in the near future.

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There is little likelihood that commercial traffic will return to this reach in the near future.

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There is little likelihood that commercial traffic will return to this reach in the near future.

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Postcards from 1867-1870 for various towns along the waterway. Note the prominence of steamboats.

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and then plunges in a short reach to the eastern end at the head of Green Bay on Lake Michigan.

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Accordingly, little commercial traffic was ever maintained along this reach of the Waterway.

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View of a typical dam at the head of the Little Chute Locks and Canal along the Fox River.

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Portage Canal, Waterway connecting Fox and Wisconsin Rivers, Portage, Columbia County, WI

2062:"Repaired lift bridge in Kaukauna leads to reopening five locks for boaters on Fox River" 2036: 1899:

Understanding Wisconsin Township, Range, and Section Land Descriptions. Irene D. Lippelt.

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Plan of Fox Wisconsin Waterway from west of the Portage to Green Bay along the Fox River.

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and continuing on the Lower Fox over 170 feet (50 m) of falls to the eastern terminus of

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Development and Application of a PCB Transport Model for the Lower Fox River, WDNR 2001

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feet (238 m), msl at the Portage to 746 feet (227 m), msl at Lake Winnebago.

89: 69: 1764: 453: 379: 76:. It continued about 160 miles (260 km) down the Fox River, following it through 1730:

Corps Of Engineers, Mississippi Valley Division January 2005 Division Bulletin No. 2

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compete with the canals in the Chicago area or with the reliability of railroads.

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Various United States Geological Survey 15-minute quad lateral Topographical maps

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Lower Wisconsin River Main Stem, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR)

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descriptions. All four cities are among the oldest in Wisconsin and the region.

16: 1488: 910: 416: 126: 77: 72:. There travelers would portage to the Upper Fox River, or eventually, use the 2213: 1440: 1320: 276: 198: 176: 73: 21: 533: 49: 633: 272: 248: 2201: 2194: 626: 514: 292: 291:

to the region and the success of eastern canal systems, especially the

288: 1788: 229: 793: 253: 233: 225: 218: 52:, it was one of the principal routes used by travelers between the 44:. First used by European settlers in 1673 during the expedition of 33: 2204:", 45 photos, 199 data pages, 9 photo caption pages 2086: 224:

In the 17th century the area was dominated by a number of tribes,

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Rapid Croche Lock will remain permanently sealed as a barrier to

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at the Great Lakes Maps exhibit of the Wisconsin's Water Library

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The British officially controlled the area until the end of the

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Wisconsin Historical Society, Dictionary of Wisconsin History

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sections to maintain a 6-foot-deep (1.8 m) deep channel.

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north, and soon assumes its general course towards Green Bay.

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Aerial view of Portage, Wisconsin. The western end of the

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Has guard lock, being upgraded with completion in 2017.

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Permanently closed. Boat lift planned for opening 2017.

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140 feet (43 m) long and 35 feet (11 m) wide.

243:. Pressures from the French colonization of the eastern 574:

Wisconsin State Riverway founded in 1998. The project

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Gurda, John (1999). "Chapter 1 - Native Milwaukee".

1656:"Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Board Riverway Maps" 565:Each of the Waterway reaches is being transformed. 2079: 2225:Historic American Engineering Record in Wisconsin 1889:. Milwaukee County Historical Society. p. 5. 500:to drag them, especially when the Waters are low. 207: 2211: 2182:Map and Section of Wisconsin and Fox River, 1867 1875:"That Dark and Bloody River", 1996, Allan Eckert 1985: 612:View of Dam at Montello on the Upper Fox River. 2012:"Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Board History" 1631:"Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Visitor, WDNR" 2149:"Restoration of Fox locks reaches completion" 2029: 1908:The Wisconsin Magazine of History, June, 1919 1765:"Wisconsin Department of Transportation maps" 24:is visible at the upper right in the picture. 2142: 2140: 2138: 2136: 2134: 2132: 2004: 1757: 1941:. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. 1924: 1922: 1920: 1918: 1916: 1914: 1800: 1648: 2129: 1844: 1825: 1782: 1723: 1698: 1673: 638: 607: 513: 452: 378: 102: 15: 1969: 1967: 1965: 1963: 1748: 1742: 201:, although over a much longer stretch. 119: 2212: 1911: 1869: 1616: 1614: 1612: 1592: 1590: 1948:from the original on December 6, 2020 1884: 2188:Historic American Engineering Record 1960: 1938:Historic American Engineering Record 568: 560: 527:monument on the north side of river. 387: 221:country, were within easy distance. 1992:American Canal Society Canal Index 1609: 1587: 271:and nominally until the end of the 13: 2159:from the original on 3 August 2020 2146: 1623: 413:Prairie du Sac hydroelectric plant 132: 14: 2256: 2245:Water transportation in Wisconsin 2175: 587: 422: 367: 355: 343: 331: 319: 307: 282: 2118:from the original on 2014-10-16 2093:from the original on 2008-05-09 2068:from the original on 2023-05-16 2054: 2043:from the original on 2008-10-11 2018:from the original on 2006-09-26 1902: 1893: 1878: 1858:from the original on 2015-09-06 1814:from the original on 2015-09-06 1771:from the original on 2008-05-03 1687:from the original on 2005-12-19 1662:from the original on 2008-06-02 1637:from the original on 2009-07-25 905:Has guard lock, being upgraded 399:Henry Schoolcraft (August 1820) 750:Little Kaukauna Lock & Dam 619: 599: 493: 461: 208:History prior to modifications 148: 1: 2235:Portages in the United States 1852:"USGS gage Fox R at Appleton" 1580: 1681:"USGS gage Wis R at Muscoda" 1445:780.0 ft (237.7 m) 773:Rapide Croche Lock & dam 191: 166: 60:until the completion of the 7: 2112:"Fox Locks Parkway Package" 1808:"USGS gage Fox R at Berlin" 1749:Priegel, Gordon R. (1966). 1574:Mississippi River Mile 631 1105:Little Lake Butte des Morts 650: 66:Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin 62:Illinois and Michigan Canal 10: 2261: 551: 269:American Revolutionary War 111: 1794:October 10, 2008, at the 1568:280 mi (450 km) 1543:188 mi (303 km) 1524:101 mi (163 km) 1521:180 mi (290 km) 1502:104 mi (167 km) 1499:176 mi (283 km) 1477:115 mi (185 km) 1474:165 mi (266 km) 1454:118 mi (190 km) 1451:162 mi (261 km) 1427:133 mi (214 km) 1424:147 mi (237 km) 1404:138 mi (222 km) 1401:142 mi (229 km) 1382:149 mi (240 km) 1379:131 mi (211 km) 1357:149 mi (240 km) 1354:131 mi (211 km) 1334:158 mi (254 km) 1331:122 mi (196 km) 1307:182 mi (293 km) 1284:184 mi (296 km) 1261:190 mi (310 km) 1238:200 mi (320 km) 1215:214 mi (344 km) 1192:215 mi (346 km) 1167:241 mi (388 km) 1142:243 mi (391 km) 1117:243 mi (391 km) 1094:248 mi (399 km) 1071:248 mi (399 km) 1048:248 mi (399 km) 1025:249 mi (401 km) 1000:252 mi (406 km) 975:253 mi (407 km) 950:254 mi (409 km) 927:254 mi (409 km) 902:256 mi (412 km) 879:256 mi (412 km) 856:256 mi (412 km) 833:256 mi (412 km) 810:256 mi (412 km) 785:260 mi (420 km) 762:267 mi (430 km) 739:273 mi (439 km) 715:280 mi (450 km) 690: 684: 678: 672: 666: 663: 1979:August 20, 2012, at the 1603:August 15, 2009, at the 1565:611 ft (186 m) 1562:611 ft (186 m) 1546:92 mi (148 km) 1540:774 ft (236 m) 1537:735 ft (224 m) 1518:774 ft (236 m) 1515:774 ft (236 m) 1496:774 ft (236 m) 1493:774 ft (236 m) 1471:782 ft (238 m) 1468:780 ft (240 m) 1448:780 ft (240 m) 1421:774 ft (236 m) 1418:769 ft (234 m) 1415:Abandoned Dam & Lock 1398:769 ft (234 m) 1395:769 ft (234 m) 1376:764 ft (233 m) 1373:764 ft (233 m) 1351:764 ft (233 m) 1348:763 ft (233 m) 1345:Abandoned Dam & Lock 1328:763 ft (233 m) 1325:763 ft (233 m) 1304:98 mi (158 km) 1301:757 ft (231 m) 1298:754 ft (230 m) 1281:96 mi (154 km) 1278:754 ft (230 m) 1275:754 ft (230 m) 1258:90 mi (140 km) 1255:754 ft (230 m) 1252:750 ft (230 m) 1249:Abandoned Dam & Lock 1235:80 mi (130 km) 1232:750 ft (230 m) 1229:746 ft (227 m) 1212:66 mi (106 km) 1209:746 ft (227 m) 1206:746 ft (227 m) 1189:65 mi (105 km) 1186:746 ft (227 m) 1183:746 ft (227 m) 1180:Big Lake Butte des Morts 1161:746 ft (227 m) 1158:746 ft (227 m) 1136:746 ft (227 m) 1133:735 ft (224 m) 1111:735 ft (224 m) 1108:735 ft (224 m) 1088:735 ft (224 m) 1085:725 ft (221 m) 1065:725 ft (221 m) 1062:715 ft (218 m) 1042:715 ft (218 m) 1039:705 ft (215 m) 1019:705 ft (215 m) 1016:695 ft (212 m) 994:695 ft (212 m) 991:685 ft (209 m) 969:685 ft (209 m) 966:672 ft (205 m) 944:672 ft (205 m) 941:662 ft (202 m) 921:662 ft (202 m) 918:652 ft (199 m) 896:652 ft (199 m) 893:642 ft (196 m) 873:642 ft (196 m) 870:632 ft (193 m) 850:632 ft (193 m) 847:622 ft (190 m) 827:622 ft (190 m) 824:612 ft (187 m) 804:612 ft (187 m) 801:603 ft (184 m) 779:603 ft (184 m) 776:592 ft (180 m) 756:592 ft (180 m) 753:588 ft (179 m) 733:588 ft (179 m) 730:578 ft (176 m) 709:578 ft (176 m) 706:578 ft (176 m) 660: 2200:HAER No. WI-104, " 2037:"Portage Canal Society" 1887:The Making of Milwaukee 1751:"Lake Puckaway Walleye" 1164:39 mi (63 km) 1139:37 mi (60 km) 1114:37 mi (60 km) 1091:32 mi (51 km) 1068:32 mi (51 km) 1045:32 mi (51 km) 1022:31 mi (50 km) 997:28 mi (45 km) 972:27 mi (43 km) 947:26 mi (42 km) 924:26 mi (42 km) 899:24 mi (39 km) 876:24 mi (39 km) 853:24 mi (39 km) 830:24 mi (39 km) 807:24 mi (39 km) 782:20 mi (32 km) 759:13 mi (21 km) 505:Father Marquette (1673) 415:was completed creating 2220:Fox–Wisconsin Waterway 2193:HAER No. WI-83, " 2190:(HAER) documentation: 1370:Dam and Abandoned Lock 1295:Dam and Abandoned Lock 736:7 mi (11 km) 687:from Prairie du Chien 644: 613: 528: 518:Landscape painting of 508: 475: 472:Elizabeth Baird (1830) 458: 440: 402: 384: 108: 30:Fox–Wisconsin Waterway 25: 2197:", 68 data pages 1789:WDNR Watershed Basins 1571:0 mi (0 km) 712:0 mi (0 km) 642: 611: 517: 497: 465: 456: 426: 391: 382: 241:French and Indian War 106: 19: 2230:History of Wisconsin 2087:"Friends of the Fox" 1412:Governor's Bend Park 988:Cedar Lock & Dam 525:Treaty of the Ceders 181:Lake Butte des Morts 120:Physical description 2240:Wisconsin waterways 1430:Slated for removal 1360:Slated for removal 1264:Slated for removal 236:tribes among them. 1997:2008-06-25 at the 1837:2009-09-28 at the 1735:2008-06-25 at the 645: 614: 529: 459: 435:Increase A. Lapham 385: 109: 90:Prairie du Sac Dam 70:Portage, Wisconsin 26: 1578: 1577: 1558:Mississippi River 1465:Lock at Wis River 561:Current situation 245:St Lawrence River 58:Mississippi River 2252: 2169: 2168: 2166: 2164: 2144: 2127: 2126: 2124: 2123: 2108: 2102: 2101: 2099: 2098: 2083: 2077: 2076: 2074: 2073: 2058: 2052: 2051: 2049: 2048: 2033: 2027: 2026: 2024: 2023: 2008: 2002: 1989: 1983: 1971: 1958: 1957: 1955: 1953: 1947: 1934: 1926: 1909: 1906: 1900: 1897: 1891: 1890: 1882: 1876: 1873: 1867: 1866: 1864: 1863: 1848: 1842: 1829: 1823: 1822: 1820: 1819: 1804: 1798: 1786: 1780: 1779: 1777: 1776: 1761: 1755: 1754: 1746: 1740: 1727: 1721: 1720: 1718: 1717: 1708:. Archived from 1702: 1696: 1695: 1693: 1692: 1677: 1671: 1670: 1668: 1667: 1652: 1646: 1645: 1643: 1642: 1627: 1621: 1618: 1607: 1594: 1554:Prairie du Chien 1226:Fishway and Lock 1218:Major tributary 658: 657: 506: 473: 438: 400: 371: 359: 347: 335: 323: 314:Prairie du Chien 311: 42:Wisconsin Rivers 2260: 2259: 2255: 2254: 2253: 2251: 2250: 2249: 2210: 2209: 2178: 2173: 2172: 2162: 2160: 2145: 2130: 2121: 2119: 2110: 2109: 2105: 2096: 2094: 2085: 2084: 2080: 2071: 2069: 2060: 2059: 2055: 2046: 2044: 2035: 2034: 2030: 2021: 2019: 2010: 2009: 2005: 1999:Wayback Machine 1990: 1986: 1981:Wayback Machine 1972: 1961: 1951: 1949: 1945: 1932: 1930:"Portage Canal" 1928: 1927: 1912: 1907: 1903: 1898: 1894: 1883: 1879: 1874: 1870: 1861: 1859: 1850: 1849: 1845: 1839:Wayback Machine 1830: 1826: 1817: 1815: 1806: 1805: 1801: 1796:Wayback Machine 1787: 1783: 1774: 1772: 1763: 1762: 1758: 1747: 1743: 1737:Wayback Machine 1728: 1724: 1715: 1713: 1704: 1703: 1699: 1690: 1688: 1679: 1678: 1674: 1665: 1663: 1654: 1653: 1649: 1640: 1638: 1629: 1628: 1624: 1619: 1610: 1605:Wayback Machine 1595: 1588: 1583: 1549:Locks unusable 1200:Butte Des Morts 685:River distance 681:from Green Bay 679:River distance 653: 622: 602: 590: 571: 569:Lower Wisconsin 563: 554: 507: 504: 496: 474: 471: 464: 439: 433: 425: 401: 398: 390: 388:Lower Wisconsin 375: 372: 363: 360: 351: 348: 339: 336: 327: 324: 315: 312: 287:The arrival of 285: 232:, Kickapoo and 210: 194: 169: 151: 135: 133:Lower Wisconsin 122: 114: 12: 11: 5: 2258: 2248: 2247: 2242: 2237: 2232: 2227: 2222: 2208: 2207: 2206: 2205: 2198: 2185: 2177: 2176:External links 2174: 2171: 2170: 2147:Behnke, Duke. 2128: 2103: 2078: 2053: 2028: 2003: 1984: 1959: 1910: 1901: 1892: 1877: 1868: 1843: 1824: 1799: 1781: 1756: 1741: 1722: 1697: 1672: 1647: 1622: 1608: 1585: 1584: 1582: 1579: 1576: 1575: 1572: 1569: 1566: 1563: 1560: 1555: 1551: 1550: 1547: 1544: 1541: 1538: 1535: 1532: 1531:Prairie du Sac 1528: 1527: 1525: 1522: 1519: 1516: 1513: 1510: 1506: 1505: 1503: 1500: 1497: 1494: 1491: 1489:Lake Wisconsin 1486: 1485:Prairie du Sac 1482: 1481: 1478: 1475: 1472: 1469: 1466: 1463: 1459: 1458: 1455: 1452: 1449: 1446: 1443: 1438: 1432: 1431: 1428: 1425: 1422: 1419: 1416: 1413: 1409: 1408: 1405: 1402: 1399: 1396: 1393: 1390: 1386: 1385: 1383: 1380: 1377: 1374: 1371: 1368: 1362: 1361: 1358: 1355: 1352: 1349: 1346: 1343: 1339: 1338: 1335: 1332: 1329: 1326: 1323: 1318: 1312: 1311: 1308: 1305: 1302: 1299: 1296: 1293: 1289: 1288: 1285: 1282: 1279: 1276: 1273: 1270: 1266: 1265: 1262: 1259: 1256: 1253: 1250: 1247: 1243: 1242: 1239: 1236: 1233: 1230: 1227: 1224: 1220: 1219: 1216: 1213: 1210: 1207: 1204: 1201: 1197: 1196: 1193: 1190: 1187: 1184: 1181: 1178: 1172: 1171: 1168: 1165: 1162: 1159: 1156: 1155:Lake Winnebago 1153: 1147: 1146: 1143: 1140: 1137: 1134: 1131: 1128: 1122: 1121: 1118: 1115: 1112: 1109: 1106: 1103: 1099: 1098: 1095: 1092: 1089: 1086: 1083: 1080: 1076: 1075: 1072: 1069: 1066: 1063: 1060: 1057: 1053: 1052: 1049: 1046: 1043: 1040: 1037: 1034: 1030: 1029: 1026: 1023: 1020: 1017: 1014: 1011: 1005: 1004: 1001: 998: 995: 992: 989: 986: 980: 979: 976: 973: 970: 967: 964: 963:Lock & Dam 961: 955: 954: 951: 948: 945: 942: 939: 936: 935:Combined Locks 932: 931: 928: 925: 922: 919: 916: 913: 911:Combined Locks 907: 906: 903: 900: 897: 894: 891: 888: 884: 883: 880: 877: 874: 871: 868: 865: 861: 860: 857: 854: 851: 848: 845: 842: 838: 837: 834: 831: 828: 825: 822: 819: 815: 814: 811: 808: 805: 802: 799: 796: 790: 789: 786: 783: 780: 777: 774: 771: 767: 766: 763: 760: 757: 754: 751: 748: 744: 743: 740: 737: 734: 731: 728: 725: 719: 718: 716: 713: 710: 707: 704: 699: 693: 692: 689: 683: 677: 671: 665: 662: 652: 649: 621: 618: 601: 598: 589: 586: 570: 567: 562: 559: 553: 550: 502: 495: 492: 469: 463: 460: 431: 424: 421: 417:Lake Wisconsin 396: 389: 386: 377: 376: 373: 366: 364: 361: 354: 352: 349: 342: 340: 337: 330: 328: 325: 318: 316: 313: 306: 304: 284: 281: 209: 206: 193: 190: 168: 165: 150: 147: 134: 131: 127:Winnebago Pool 121: 118: 113: 110: 78:Lake Winnebago 36:formed by the 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 2257: 2246: 2243: 2241: 2238: 2236: 2233: 2231: 2228: 2226: 2223: 2221: 2218: 2217: 2215: 2203: 2199: 2196: 2192: 2191: 2189: 2186: 2183: 2180: 2179: 2158: 2154: 2150: 2143: 2141: 2139: 2137: 2135: 2133: 2117: 2113: 2107: 2092: 2088: 2082: 2067: 2063: 2057: 2042: 2038: 2032: 2017: 2013: 2007: 2000: 1996: 1993: 1988: 1982: 1978: 1975: 1970: 1968: 1966: 1964: 1944: 1940: 1939: 1931: 1925: 1923: 1921: 1919: 1917: 1915: 1905: 1896: 1888: 1881: 1872: 1857: 1853: 1847: 1840: 1836: 1833: 1828: 1813: 1809: 1803: 1797: 1793: 1790: 1785: 1770: 1766: 1760: 1752: 1745: 1738: 1734: 1731: 1726: 1712:on 2008-05-03 1711: 1707: 1701: 1686: 1682: 1676: 1661: 1657: 1651: 1636: 1632: 1626: 1617: 1615: 1613: 1606: 1602: 1598: 1593: 1591: 1586: 1573: 1570: 1567: 1564: 1561: 1559: 1556: 1553: 1552: 1548: 1545: 1542: 1539: 1536: 1533: 1530: 1529: 1526: 1523: 1520: 1517: 1514: 1511: 1508: 1507: 1504: 1501: 1498: 1495: 1492: 1490: 1487: 1484: 1483: 1479: 1476: 1473: 1470: 1467: 1464: 1461: 1460: 1456: 1453: 1450: 1447: 1444: 1442: 1441:Portage Canal 1439: 1437: 1434: 1433: 1429: 1426: 1423: 1420: 1417: 1414: 1411: 1410: 1406: 1403: 1400: 1397: 1394: 1391: 1388: 1387: 1384: 1381: 1378: 1375: 1372: 1369: 1367: 1364: 1363: 1359: 1356: 1353: 1350: 1347: 1344: 1341: 1340: 1336: 1333: 1330: 1327: 1324: 1322: 1321:Puckaway Lake 1319: 1317: 1314: 1313: 1310:Crest boards 1309: 1306: 1303: 1300: 1297: 1294: 1291: 1290: 1286: 1283: 1280: 1277: 1274: 1271: 1268: 1267: 1263: 1260: 1257: 1254: 1251: 1248: 1245: 1244: 1240: 1237: 1234: 1231: 1228: 1225: 1222: 1221: 1217: 1214: 1211: 1208: 1205: 1202: 1199: 1198: 1194: 1191: 1188: 1185: 1182: 1179: 1177: 1174: 1173: 1169: 1166: 1163: 1160: 1157: 1154: 1152: 1149: 1148: 1144: 1141: 1138: 1135: 1132: 1129: 1127: 1124: 1123: 1119: 1116: 1113: 1110: 1107: 1104: 1101: 1100: 1096: 1093: 1090: 1087: 1084: 1081: 1078: 1077: 1073: 1070: 1067: 1064: 1061: 1058: 1055: 1054: 1050: 1047: 1044: 1041: 1038: 1035: 1032: 1031: 1027: 1024: 1021: 1018: 1015: 1012: 1010: 1007: 1006: 1002: 999: 996: 993: 990: 987: 985: 982: 981: 977: 974: 971: 968: 965: 962: 960: 957: 956: 952: 949: 946: 943: 940: 937: 934: 933: 929: 926: 923: 920: 917: 914: 912: 909: 908: 904: 901: 898: 895: 892: 889: 886: 885: 881: 878: 875: 872: 869: 866: 863: 862: 858: 855: 852: 849: 846: 843: 840: 839: 835: 832: 829: 826: 823: 820: 817: 816: 812: 809: 806: 803: 800: 797: 795: 792: 791: 787: 784: 781: 778: 775: 772: 769: 768: 764: 761: 758: 755: 752: 749: 746: 745: 741: 738: 735: 732: 729: 726: 724: 721: 720: 717: 714: 711: 708: 705: 703: 700: 698: 695: 694: 688: 682: 676: 675:(upper pool) 670: 669:(lower pool) 659: 656: 648: 641: 637: 635: 630: 628: 617: 610: 606: 597: 594: 585: 582: 579: 577: 566: 558: 549: 545: 541: 537: 535: 526: 521: 516: 512: 501: 491: 487: 483: 479: 468: 455: 451: 449: 444: 436: 430: 420: 418: 414: 409: 406: 395: 381: 370: 365: 358: 353: 346: 341: 334: 329: 322: 317: 310: 305: 302: 301: 300: 296: 294: 290: 283:Modifications 280: 278: 277:Blackhawk War 274: 270: 265: 263: 257: 255: 250: 246: 242: 237: 235: 231: 228:(Winnebago), 227: 222: 220: 216: 205: 202: 200: 199:Niagara Falls 189: 185: 182: 178: 177:Puckaway Lake 173: 164: 162: 157: 146: 143: 139: 130: 128: 117: 105: 101: 97: 95: 91: 85: 83: 79: 75: 74:Portage Canal 71: 67: 63: 59: 55: 51: 47: 43: 39: 35: 31: 23: 22:Portage Canal 18: 2161:. Retrieved 2152: 2120:. Retrieved 2106: 2095:. Retrieved 2081: 2070:. Retrieved 2056: 2045:. Retrieved 2031: 2020:. Retrieved 2006: 1987: 1950:. Retrieved 1936: 1904: 1895: 1886: 1880: 1871: 1860:. Retrieved 1846: 1827: 1816:. Retrieved 1802: 1784: 1773:. Retrieved 1759: 1744: 1725: 1714:. Retrieved 1710:the original 1700: 1689:. Retrieved 1675: 1664:. Retrieved 1650: 1639:. Retrieved 1625: 1392:Buffalo Lake 959:Little Chute 686: 680: 674: 668: 654: 646: 634:sea lampreys 631: 623: 615: 603: 595: 591: 583: 580: 575: 572: 564: 555: 546: 542: 538: 534:Little Chute 530: 524: 519: 509: 498: 488: 484: 480: 476: 466: 445: 441: 427: 411:In 1914 the 410: 407: 403: 392: 297: 286: 266: 258: 238: 223: 211: 203: 195: 186: 174: 170: 152: 144: 140: 136: 123: 115: 98: 86: 29: 27: 1952:November 3, 1342:Grand River 1269:White River 770:Wrightstown 747:Wrightstown 588:The Portage 520:The Cedars 423:The Portage 273:War of 1812 249:Great Lakes 149:The Portage 54:Great Lakes 2214:Categories 2122:2014-11-02 2097:2008-04-25 2072:2023-05-16 2047:2008-04-25 2022:2008-04-25 1862:2008-04-25 1818:2008-04-24 1775:2008-04-25 1716:2008-04-25 1691:2008-04-24 1666:2008-04-25 1641:2008-04-25 1581:References 1272:Open River 1241:Operating 1203:Wolf River 1145:Operating 1097:Operating 1074:Operating 1051:Operating 1028:Operating 1003:Operating 938:Upper Lock 915:Lower Lock 765:Operating 742:Operating 673:Elevation 667:Elevation 627:round goby 293:Erie Canal 289:steamships 215:Rock River 2153:USA Today 1316:Marquette 1292:Princeton 953:Upgraded 930:Upgraded 882:Upgraded 859:Upgraded 836:Upgraded 813:Upgraded 702:Green Bay 697:Green Bay 661:Location 620:Lower Fox 600:Upper Fox 494:Lower Fox 462:Upper Fox 374:Green Bay 326:Sauk City 230:Menominee 192:Lower Fox 167:Upper Fox 161:Green Bay 82:Green Bay 46:Marquette 2157:Archived 2116:Archived 2091:Archived 2066:Archived 2041:Archived 2016:Archived 1995:Archived 1977:Archived 1943:Archived 1856:Archived 1835:Archived 1812:Archived 1792:Archived 1769:Archived 1733:Archived 1685:Archived 1660:Archived 1635:Archived 1601:Archived 1509:Merrimac 1389:Endeavor 1366:Montello 1287:Removed 1102:Appleton 1079:Appleton 1056:Appleton 1033:Appleton 1009:Appleton 984:Kimberly 887:Kaukauna 864:Kaukauna 841:Kaukauna 818:Kaukauna 794:Kaukauna 691:Comment 664:Feature 651:Features 503:— 482:halted. 470:— 448:Montello 432:— 397:— 394:channel. 362:Appleton 262:long-lot 254:Fox Wars 234:Chippewa 226:Ho Chunk 219:Illinois 56:and the 34:waterway 2163:6 April 1480:Closed 1462:Portage 1457:Closed 1436:Portage 1176:Oshkosh 1126:Menasha 723:De Pere 552:Summary 338:Portage 217:to the 156:Chicago 112:Reaches 94:lamprey 1599:(PDF) 1246:Berlin 1223:Eureka 1151:Neenah 1082:Lock 1 1059:Lock 2 1036:Lock 3 1013:Lock 4 890:Lock 1 867:Lock 2 844:Lock 3 821:Lock 4 798:Lock 5 437:(1844) 350:Berlin 50:Joliet 48:& 2001:(PDF) 1946:(PDF) 1933:(PDF) 1841:(PDF) 1739:(PDF) 1512:Ferry 1407:Lake 1337:Lake 1195:Lake 1170:Lake 1120:Lake 32:is a 2165:2016 1954:2021 1130:Lock 727:Lock 247:and 40:and 28:The 1534:Dam 38:Fox 2216:: 2155:. 2151:. 2131:^ 2114:. 2089:. 2064:. 2039:. 2014:. 1962:^ 1935:. 1913:^ 1854:. 1810:. 1767:. 1683:. 1658:. 1633:. 1611:^ 1589:^ 578:. 279:. 256:. 163:. 96:. 84:. 2167:. 2125:. 2100:. 2075:. 2050:. 2025:. 1956:. 1865:. 1821:. 1778:. 1753:. 1719:. 1694:. 1669:. 1644:.

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