Even in the freezing grip of winter ...

Despite temperatures well below freezing in the single-digit range for the first week of the New Year, a small natural spring that emerged at the corner of West Street and First Avenue SW in Waukon (at the corner of the Waukon State Bank main bank parking lot behind Waukon Greenhouse) following this past year's heavy rains continued to flow, alarming some citizens while causing others to reminisce. City of Waukon Water Superintendent Bob Campbell advised the Waukon City Council at a recent meeting that the high water table remaining after this past year's series of heavy rain events has resulted in the naturally-occurring underground spring finding its way back to the surface. Campbell advised that he had once been told by the Howe brothers who were once caretakers of the Waukon State Bank that the spring location had once served as a watering hole for area horses before the days of motorized vehicles and further development within the Waukon community. He said the spring had once been tiled into the City's storm sewer system, with its flow often audible through the intake grates along the First Avenue SW side of the current Kwik Star property - even during dry weather periods, and he speculates that this past year's deluge of rainfall has forced a change in that system, resulting in the spring to emerge above ground once again. Campbell suggested that if the flow above ground continues, crews may have to dig into the area to try and remedy the situation once again. He said the City and even the Allamakee County Sheriff's Dispatch Office have received numerous calls on what many have thought was a water leak, but which, instead, is simply a naturally-flowing spring making its presence known once again, even in sub-zero weather. Standard photo by Joe Moses.