Rising water levels good for Oconto Marina & City The Oconto River may soon be navigable again for larger boats. By Bill Borneman For The News-Chronicle For the past three years, near record-low water levels in Green Bay and on the Oconto River have cost the boating tourism industry in Oconto an estimated $500,000 plus, according to city officials and Bruce Mommaerts of the Oconto County Economic Development Corporation. Why? Well, the low levels made it almost impossible for boats of nearly any size to navigate the river leading to the Oconto Breakwater Park harbor at the mouth of the river and Green Bay. It also cost the county's largest industry, boat builder Cruisers Yachts Inc. of Oconto, considerable money since it no longer could test its 40-foot plus boats on the river. The testing had to be done out of the area. The Oconto business community also has taken a hit since the low levels occurred three years ago, especially local restaurants, bars and sporting goods stores, all of whom cater to the scores of visiting boaters. Oconto Mayor Joe Bralick and members of the Oconto City Council sensed the urgency of the situation over a year ago, and applied for federal/state grants, since the city couldn't afford the dredging costs estimated at several hundred thousand dollars. But the grant applications were stalled and the dredging was put on hold. Ernie and Pat Krause, owners of Hi Seas Marina Inc. on Harbor Road along the Oconto River, say they also have seen a sharp business loss the past three years. But the outlook is much brighter this spring. The heavy winter snows in the Upper Peninsula have produced a substantial runoff during spring thaws, coupled with above normal rainfall over the Green Bay and Lake Michigan basin. The result has been a rise of more than 10 inches of water levels on both the river and Green Bay. Pat Krause noted last week that the crisis has been alleviated, since boat navigation has greatly improved, save some problems with sandbars. Except for larger yachts, those over 40 feet, both the marina owners and city officials now are hopeful the 2002 boating season will rebound slowly. Many long-term bay watchers believe the downward spiral has ended and we now are in a cycle of rising levels - for at least the next two or three years. The Oconto Breakwater Park also attracts scores of fishing enthusiasts each year. The fishing volume likewise was reduced during the low levels. John Matravers, owner of Oconto Sports and Cycle, which sells fishing equipment and bait, indicates he too is optimistic about the outlook for the season. He and Bralick describe the Oconto Harbor as one of the finest in Northeast Wisconsin, and are hopeful boating enthusiasts will return in the numbers of just three years ago.