FWA Acquires Bauske’s Marina to Improve Recreation, Environmental Quality and Minimize Flooding

June 30, 2025

A significant part of the Fox Waterway Agency’s (FWA) mission is to facilitate recreation, minimize flooding, and improve environmental quality on the Chain O’ Lakes/Fox River.

The section of the Fox River that flows downriver under Route 12 from Nippersink Lake into Pistakee Lake has been a main navigational channel of our magnificent waterway for decades.

The FWA has lacked regular, efficient, and cost-effective access to the critical Governor’s and Nippersink Channels, before, during and after flooding for maintenance and emergency debris work.

As a result, the FWA targeted Bauske’s Marina as an acquisition target for these critical purposes. The roughly 9-acre property had been for sale for years. Since the 2017 flood, the Fox Waterway Agency’s team has worked closely with our elected officials and the IDNR to successfully procure funding. This funding assists our efforts to minimize flooding and improve safety while simultaneously facilitating recreation and improving water quality.

We were successful with the Appropriation of $2M of IDNR Capital Grant funding to contribute to the purchase of this property for $2.4M. Initial phase (Part 1) of this purchase closed on January 30, 2025, and was reimbursed at $1М. The second $1M of grant funding (Part 2) occurred later in the spring of 2025 and was reimbursed shortly thereafter.

THANK YOU, and all of our valuable team for your support in these efforts!

Sincerely,  Joseph S. Keller Executive Director, FWA