Wisconsin State Farmer
SUBSCRIBE NOWfor home delivery

Get the news

Share This Story!

Let friends in your social network know what you are reading about

FacebookEmailTwitterGoogle+LinkedInPinterest

Earthen dam failure washes away farmer's dreams

Posted!

A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

Earthen dam breach in southwest Wisconsin leaves farmers at a loss

Looking from the top of the remaining dam, toward the area where the water accumulated before the dam failure. Those are trees laid flat by the immense, sudden outflow. This area was full of rain water all the way back to the gray trees in the center distance, at depths about 50 feet.
Looking from the top of the remaining dam, toward the area where the water accumulated before the dam failure. Those are trees laid flat by the immense, sudden outflow. This area was full of rain water all the way back to the gray trees in the center distance, at depths about 50 feet. Andy Radtke

None

Looking from the top of the remaining dam, toward the area where the water accumulated before the dam failure. Those are trees laid flat by the immense, sudden outflow. This area was full of rain water all the way back to the gray trees in the center distance, at depths about 50 feet. Andy Radtke
The earthen dam once 50 feet tall has a channel ripped through it after flood waters breached the dam, sending a wall of water down the valley, washing away everything in its path.
The earthen dam once 50 feet tall has a channel ripped through it after flood waters breached the dam, sending a wall of water down the valley, washing away everything in its path. Andy Radtke

None

The earthen dam once 50 feet tall has a channel ripped through it after flood waters breached the dam, sending a wall of water down the valley, washing away everything in its path. Andy Radtke
The earthen dam once 50 feet tall as seen from below. Water at first flowed over the top, then broke through, sending a wall of water down the valley, washing away everything in its path.
The earthen dam once 50 feet tall as seen from below. Water at first flowed over the top, then broke through, sending a wall of water down the valley, washing away everything in its path. Andy Radtke

None

The earthen dam once 50 feet tall as seen from below. Water at first flowed over the top, then broke through, sending a wall of water down the valley, washing away everything in its path. Andy Radtke
Miles of debris in the wake of the earthen dam breach litter the once verdant valley.
Miles of debris in the wake of the earthen dam breach litter the once verdant valley. Andy Radtke

None

Miles of debris in the wake of the earthen dam breach litter the once verdant valley. Andy Radtke
Miles of debris in the wake of the earthen dam breach litter the once verdant valley.
Miles of debris in the wake of the earthen dam breach litter the once verdant valley. Andy Radtke

None

Miles of debris in the wake of the earthen dam breach litter the once verdant valley. Andy Radtke
Tucker Gretebeck walks around the slab that once held his tobacco barn.
Tucker Gretebeck walks around the slab that once held his tobacco barn. Andy Radtke

None

Tucker Gretebeck walks around the slab that once held his tobacco barn. Andy Radtke
Tucker’ Gretebeck's Allis Chalmers tractor found about a mile down the valley is twisted among the debris like a toy.
Tucker’ Gretebeck's Allis Chalmers tractor found about a mile down the valley is twisted among the debris like a toy. Andy Radtke

None

Tucker’ Gretebeck's Allis Chalmers tractor found about a mile down the valley is twisted among the debris like a toy. Andy Radtke
Tucker’ Gretebeck's Allis Chalmers tractor found about a mile down the valley. His other tractor was carried further.
Tucker’ Gretebeck's Allis Chalmers tractor found about a mile down the valley. His other tractor was carried further. Andy Radtke

None

Tucker’ Gretebeck's Allis Chalmers tractor found about a mile down the valley. His other tractor was carried further. Andy Radtke
This valley once was a wooded pasture until a wall of water bowled its way through an earthen dam.
This valley once was a wooded pasture until a wall of water bowled its way through an earthen dam. Andy Radtke

None

This valley once was a wooded pasture until a wall of water bowled its way through an earthen dam. Andy Radtke
A venerable tobacco barn, seen here before the flood that destroyed it, was painted by a noted artist and was used for gatherings of up to 4,000 people each fall who came for wagon rides, pumpkin harvest and cookouts. The summer kitchen and wood-fired pizza oven were lost in the flood along with tractors and wagons.
A venerable tobacco barn, seen here before the flood that destroyed it, was painted by a noted artist and was used for gatherings of up to 4,000 people each fall who came for wagon rides, pumpkin harvest and cookouts. The summer kitchen and wood-fired pizza oven were lost in the flood along with tractors and wagons. Andy Radtke

None

A venerable tobacco barn, seen here before the flood that destroyed it, was painted by a noted artist and was used for gatherings of up to 4,000 people each fall who came for wagon rides, pumpkin harvest and cookouts. The summer kitchen and wood-fired pizza oven were lost in the flood along with tractors and wagons. Andy Radtke
Cashton farmer Tucker Gretebeck survey's the damage to his farmland following the breach of an earthen dam.
Cashton farmer Tucker Gretebeck survey's the damage to his farmland following the breach of an earthen dam. Andy Radtke

None

Cashton farmer Tucker Gretebeck survey's the damage to his farmland following the breach of an earthen dam. Andy Radtke

Interested in this topic? You may also want to view these photo galleries:

    Replay
    Autoplay
    Show Thumbnails
    Show Captions
     Fullscreen

    None

    Looking from the top of the remaining dam, toward the area where the water accumulated before the dam failure. Those are trees laid flat by the immense, sudden outflow. This area was full of rain water all the way back to the gray trees in the center distance, at depths about 50 feet.