Aerator on Big Eau Pleine ready for field test this month

WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAU) – A new aeration system is in place on the Big Eau Pleine Reservoir and ready for use this winter.

But BEPCO vice president Mike Paul says except for a test to see how it runs, they likely won't need to use the emergency system this year. Water levels on the lake are 9 feet higher than this time a year ago and oxygen levels are good. 

When the system is turned on for the test later this month, Paul says the section of ice it opens up will likely be much bigger than in years past, up to 60 acres or so. The open water will be cordoned off like in the past, and left to refreeze over the winter.

A further test will be performed next summer, when dive teams head to the bottom of the lake and plant GPS tags on the outer reaches of the system to help accurately judge how big the region of water is.