Planned release of water results in flash flood watch in central Wisconsin

Photo by Penny Thompson

Friendship, WI - A planned release of water from the Friendship Lake dam has resulted in some localized flooding below the dam in Friendship today.  According to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, due to recent heavy rains and high water levels in Friendship Lake, a high volume of water is being released through the Friendship dam today  into Little Roche A Cri Creek.

According to the Associated Press, a slow-moving thunderstorm dumped more than an inch of rain on Friendship Thursday.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch at 9:40 AM Saturday for the Little Roche A Cri Creek from the Friendship dam downstream to Castle Rock Lake.  The watch is in effect through Saturday evening.   In the watch, the Weather Service said that the high volume of water being released from the Friendship Lake dam could result in high water levels along the Little Roche A Cri Creek from the dam downstream to Castle Rock.  The immediate impact will be to Friendship Park.   The National Weather Service said that according to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, the dam in Friendship has not failed.

To avoid the flooded area the Sheriff’s Office has closed Highway 13 at the west end of Friendship Lake at W Lake Street which is Adams County Road J.  The Sheriff’s Office is directing north bound traffic to travel east on County Road J to County Road G and then north  to Highway 23.

The Red Cross has opened a reception area for people affected by the flooding downstream of the dam.   In a tweet the Red Cross said the reception center is open  at 507 W Lake Street in Friendship.