Belleville officials said last weekend that they are aware that water is seeping through joints in the concrete of the Belleville Dam along the spillway portion of the structure.

Sue Moen

On Thursday morning, March 21, 2019, engineers from Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and MSA Professional Services were on-site with Village Staff and elected officials to evaluate the dam and create a plan to determine what is happening. The seeping water does not indicate an immediate hazard, but there could be damage to the underlying earthen or concrete construction of the dam.

At this time, the two gates of the dam will remain opened indefinitely. This is to reduce the water level of the Sugar River behind the dam so that further investigation can be more easily conducted. As the water level of the Sugar River itself drops, the water level of Lake Belle View will also have to be reduced to maintain equilibrium along the berm separating the lake from the river. Without this balance, the berm itself could be threatened by unequal pressure.

Officials apologized for the inconvenience, but noted that this seems to be the most prudent action for the Village to take at this time to safeguard the dam and lake.