UW Platteville Engineers Present Water Wheel Plans

Front Row: Dr. Richard Benesh, Michele Benesh, Jaine Winters, Matt Groshek, John Winters, Bill Balasia

Back Row: Caleb Johnson, Joe McIlree, Eric Schomisch, Mike Bump, Eric Simon

On Tuesday, May 5, a group from Brodhead attended a presentation by a team of UW-Platteville senior engineering students on the Platteville campus.  These students had worked all semester to design a waterwheel to be placed at the former power house location at the foot of the Race, as part of the Pearl Island Recreational Corridor project.  They had previously come to Brodhead on two different occasions to study the proposed site, take measurements of water flow, dimensions, and other pertinent factors, and to make a preliminary presentation and gather input from the Pearl Island team.

The purposes of the proposed project are to lure visitors to the area by installing another attractive feature to the race and to potentially generate power to light the walkway from the wheel to the proposed covered bridge at Putnam Park.  It would also serve as a symbol of the project’s dedication to environmental responsibility.

The students, under the tutelage of Dr. P. B. Ravikumar, Professor, made a very well-organized, well-researched, and professional presentation, after which they surprised the Brodhead group with a large original oil painting depicting the appearance of the area with the waterwheel installed.  

The Decatur Lake Mill Race Association hopes to make this project (among many others) a reality by raising money through our Pearl Island Bike Across America Fundraiser.