Flood and High Water Conditions on the

Bad River Reservation (as of May 18, 2017)

The Bad River Band and Natural Resources Department wants to inform the Bad River community of changing water levels and flood conditions.

Water levels in rivers and streams on the Reservation are extremely high after several days of heavy rain. It’s expected that the Bad River will continue to rise within the next 24 to 48 hours.

The GIS Program at the Natural Resources Department has made a map of current water and road conditions. We will continually update the map and post it on the Tribe’s web site: www.badriver-nsn.gov

The National Weather Service has issued a forecast specifically for Bad River for the next 48 hours:

No precipitation expected between now and Friday night, skies should be sunny Friday.

The White River is forecast to crest the evening ofThursday, May 18; the Bad River in Odanah is forecast to rise another foot before cresting the morning of Friday, May 19. 

Additional rain forecast on Saturday, May 20, is not expected to make the rivers rise again, but may slow down how fast the water levels recede.

Thereafter, while periods of light rain are forecast next Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, no heavy precipitation is forecast at this time.

Road Conditions

• All back roads are closed except for emergency services vehicles.
• All hard surface roads remain open.

Here are the Reservation roads we know are either washed out, covered in water, or very close to flooding:

          Government Road south of Four Corners is closed due to several washouts.

          Lake Road is closed due to a washout.

          Elm Hoist Road is full of numerous dangerous pot holes.

          Miller Road at Dock Road has water covering the intersection.

Places To Get Information About Changing Water Levels

The National Weather Service web site identifies at-risk rivers in the Bad River watershed in real time at these two web sites:  http://bit.ly/2riVkLo  and https://waterdata.usgs.gov/wi/nwis/rt

How to Stay Safe

Here are some basic safety tips from the Office of Homeland Security when you’re in a flooded area:

• Turn Around, Don’t Drown!
• Avoid walking or driving through flood waters.
• Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, and just one foot of water can sweep your vehicle away.

Learn more about what to do to stay safe in high water or flood conditions: www.ready.gov/floods

Who to Call if You Have an Emergency or Want to Report a Problem

Miigwech and Stay Safe!

Lissa Radke

Environmental Specialist

Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa

72682 Maple Street

Odanah WI 54861

(715) 682-7123

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