Storm damage closes a northwoods jewel to camping for the time being. Jim Bishop with the Department of Natural Resources says Tuesday night’s severe weather damaged about fifty percent of the campsites on the Turtle Flambeau Flowage in Iron County. “A lot more than initially thought,” says Bishop. “Picnic tables that were smashed, fire rings with trees down on them. Our crews right now are looking at the most damaged sites. Bishop says it’s too early say when camping will reopen. There are seventy campsites on the flowage billed as the “Crown Jewel of Wisconsin,” and for now, all are closed to the public.
The flowage remains open to anglers, but Bishop urges caution “There’s going to be a lot of flotsom out there. People have got to very careful with their boats. These storms tend to toss a lot of stuff in the waters. Take it slow, and as always, wear life jackets.” Bishop says the damage – the result of straight line winds, a tornado, or a combination of both – cut a mile wide, eight mile long swath across the northern part of the 19,000 acre flowage. Three campers were injured in Tuesday night’s storms.