FOX VALLEY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A traditional Memorial Day summer kick-off in the Fox Valley is now underway.
The Kaukauna locks are open, and a busy season is anticipated.
The Kaukauna Locks first reopened in July of 2021.
“They had been closed for about three generations before that, so roughly 1985,” said Jeremy Cords, director of the Fox River Navigational System.
Since those gates opened again, a number of people have been using the system.
Last year, the locks saw more than 21,000 passengers – that was even with hitting some currents along the way.
“Things that happened out of our control along the river – Riverside Park was closed down so, as a result, we didn’t have as much traffic as we anticipated,” Cords said. “This year, we’re expecting that we won’t have that issue.”
But it is Wisconsin, after all, so that all depends on the weather.
The bad news? The Menasha Lock remains closed.
A plan to install an electrified barrier to keep round gobies out of Lake Winnebago is still in the works but is awaiting the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources approval. If that’s eventually given, that could mean seeing the Menasha Lock up and running again, shortly thereafter.
“Let me put it this way – if the plan gets approved, it could happen within a couple of years of the approval,” Cords said.
But for boaters alike, finally being able to traverse the Kaukauna Locks again is a big deal.
“It’s just another great way to see Appleton, and the Heart of the Valley, so it’s really unique,” said Cords. “You drive around Appleton all day long, or Kaukauna, or Little Chute, but when you get on the river, it’s different.”
What’s more, going through the locks is like traveling back in time – the locks are the only, fully-restored, hand-operated system in the nation.
“The lock tenders will walk around in a circle to operate these locks – that’s exactly the way they did it 150 years ago,” said Cords.
The locks have gone cashless, so all passes have to be purchased online.
It’s still only $10 for a day pass, which gets you through all 16 locks on the system.
Hours and other information can be found here.
