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Popular 400 Trail reopens with $100,000 in repairs following massive June floods
News Release Published: November 19, 2008 by the Central Office
Contact(s): Ed Culhane, Public Affairs Manager – West Central Region, (715) 839-3711
Joanne M. Haas, DNR Secretary’s Office – Madison, (608) 267-0798
New bridge system built to better withstand future floods
REEDSBURG - Five months after powerful June floodwaters forced the unavoidable closure of the 400 State Trail, Department of Natural Resources Secretary Matt Frank today joined officials, business leaders and recreational clubs to celebrate the reopening of the 22-mile all-season trail thanks to $100,000 in public safety repairs along with a revamped bridge system.
“The June floods hit hard in 30 southern counties. Sauk County was among those hardest hit,” Frank told a news conference at the 400 headquarters at the Reedsburg Depot. “The June floods affected homes and outdoor recreation. The 400 was a priority to reopen as soon as repairs could be completed to restore trail safety for users.
“The 400 is a trail for all seasons. A favorite of bikers, hikers, horseback riders and snowmobilers – the reopening also is great economic news for the communities and businesses that line the trail,” Frank said of the trail that follows the river valley from Elroy to Reedsburg, passing through Union Center, Wonewoc and La Valle. “This trail is one of the reasons Wisconsin is a tourist destination, and is important to the local economics of the host communities.”
DNR records show 44,275 used the trail in 2007. The State Parks and Their Gateway Communities Report, from the University of Wisconsin-Extension, shows the economic impact of the trail is $32.08 in spending visit per day. The trail benefits from an active Friends group who donate hundreds of hours.
DNR personnel first had to wait for the waters to recede to assess the trail’s damages the majority of the trail. For public safety reasons, the entire trail was closed as all the bridges needed inspection. Roughly $100,000 has been spent on repairs completed by contracted businesses to ensure public safety on the trail that crisscrosses the Baraboo River 26 times.
Damages were worst on the seven miles of parallel bike and horse trails between La Valle and Wonewoc. Floods damaged eight bicycle bridges and three horse bridges.
With an eye on preventing future flooding problems, the DNR modified the system of parallel bridges on the 7-mile section open to horses. Instead of rebuilding two bridges at each crossing used by horse riders and others, Frank said single wider bridges with dedicated paths were built to accommodate bicycles, horses, snowmobiles and winter trail groomers. This affected nine crossings.
The new bridges have heavily reinforced footings and nothing below the deck to trap flood debris. River banks above and below the bridges were armored to better withstand flood force waters. Rebuilding the bridge at La Valle was a $26,000 project – and was part of the rough total spent to date.
The DNR next year will complete approximately $80,000 of remaining work on the 400 Trail - including disposal of old bridges, hardening the approaches to the bridges to accommodate horse traffic and the placement of new signs.
Frank said an application for reimbursement of 400 Trail work from the Federal Emergency Management Administration is being prepared. “So far the DNR is paying for the repairs.” The amount of potential reimbursement for costs is 87.5 percent – 75 percent will be sought from FEMA and 12.5 percent from the Wisconsin Emergency Management Fund.
