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Reminder - Bridge Closure for Construction starts Friday, April, 24. The bridge by Louie's on the Lake / near the boat landing on Hwy 63 in Cumberland will be a complete closure for 84-87 days. The City of Cumberland will be posting Weekly Construction Updates.
Please continue to shop local throughout the construction—our local business owners truly appreciate your support! If you need help getting to your favorite spots, feel free to reach out.
Beaver Dam Lake Management District intends to apply for a permit from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to treat up to 40 acres of Beaver Dam Lake with aquatic herbicides to control aquatic plants. The proposed treatment would occur between April 15, 2026 and Oct. 15, 2026.
Beaver Dam Lake Management District will conduct a public informational meeting on the proposed treatment if five or more individuals, organizations, special units of government or local units of government request one. The meeting would give citizens a chance to learn more about the proposed treatment from the permit applicant. Beaver Dam Lake Management District is not required to, but may, change the proposed treatment based on information provided by citizens attending the meeting.
Any request for a public meeting on the proposed treatment must be made within five days after this notice is published. The request must specify the topics to be discussed at the meeting, including problems and alternatives, and must be sent in writing to:
District PO Box 232
Cumberland WI 54829
810 West Maple Street
Spooner, WI 54801
ATT: Tyler Mesalk
Beaver Dam Lake Management District
P.O. Box 232
Cumberland, WI 54829
Published in the Cumberland Advocate on February 11, 2026 WNAXLP
It seems that the summers are coming and going faster each year. I always look with anticipation for ice
out and the installation of docks and lifts around the lake. But, before you know it, it is time to pull them
before the lake again freezes over!
Although it seems like yesterday, the 2025 BDLMD Annual Meeting was held on Sat. Aug. 2rd with 70
individuals in attendance. The budget was passed which will fund treating for Eurasian Water Milfoil-
EWM, and complete the newly developed Beaver Dam Lake Management Plan that was presented and
approved at the Annual Meeting. The plan looks out to the next 10 years, and we can now begin
working on several of the plan Goals, including the completion of the SE storm water pond pathway,
and develop a conceptual plan for improving the shoreline and dockage along the City Parking lot along
Library Lake. Michael Benjamin was elected as commissioner, along with Tim Defoe, who returns for
another term. Following the Annual Meeting a brief Board meeting was held, where the current officers
were re-elected for the next fiscal year.
With the completion of the SE storm water pond which included additional trees and walking path, a
new dock with an attached kayak/canoe launch was installed. In October, the walking path was extended
from the western “rain garden” pond, along Highway 48/63 to 5th Ave. The pathway connected to the
pedestrian crossing across the highway to the corner by the former real estate office. The Cumberland
Area Trails Alliance-CATA is working on funding the installation of an electronic cross signal at the
crossing location.
Although the dredging of Library Lake was completed to the WDNR permitted locations, depth and
sediment quantity, many people have indicated they thought more of the Lake, including the “Bog”, was
going to be removed. Unfortunately, that could not be accomplished but additional floating debris from
the dredging project was removed. Next spring the Grove Street bridge channel will be cleaned out to
allow easier passage in and out of Library Lake. The BDLMD commissioners approved the replacement
of the dock located just north of the small pepper eating stage in Spring 2026.
The Lake level is almost a foot below normal. This is as low as I have observed in the 17 years I have
resided on the Lake. The lack of rain since mid-Sept., plus the warm dry weather increasing evaporation
rates are the main reason for the low lake level. To prevent shoreline damage due to ice movement
during the winter months the lake is normally lowered about 6 to 8 inches starting around Nov. 1st. This
is a WDNR approved and Barron County task. The water in the channel flowing from Duck Lake into
Norwegian Bay on Nov. 15th was about half of what is flowing over the stop log at the dam.
The issue of enhanced wakes continues to grow with a number of organizations advocating for
regulations on a State-wide basis. Certainly, there are small, shallow lakes and rivers where watercraft
that create enhanced wakes should be prohibited. This past summer, I was again pleased, except for a
few occasions, to observe responsible operation of watercraft that were creating enhanced wakes.
During 2026, it will be interesting to follow what happens in Madison with potential Enhanced Wake
(Wake Boat) legislation!
The October aquatic Plant Survey was completed with encouraging results, excluding increased EWM
in Williams Bay and surprisingly Library Lake. Even though Library Lake was lowered by over 4 ft for
the entire winter which normally kills EWM, it is possible that the dredging disturbed the sediment and exposed EWM seeds that can lie dormant for years. The commissioners will be discussing the Draft
2026 EWM Treatment Plan at the Dec. Board Meeting to determine what goals should be drafted for the
2026 EWM Treatment Permit. In Jan. 2026, the commissioners will be meeting with the WDNR to
review our Draft EWM Treatment Plan prior to submittal. Hopefully this will eliminate the need for
legal action that was pursued in 2025.
Hopefully the weather this winter will provide the ideal conditions so everyone can pursue what they
enjoy during the winter months – whether it is fishing, skiing, snowmobiling, snow shoeing, skating, etc.
Remember to practice common sense and follow the regulations when on the ice, on the trails or ski
hills. Have a great Thanksgiving and enjoy the upcoming Holidays.
