A Commitment to District 21 and La Crosse County

Hello Neighbors, this is Jeff Fimreite, and I’m running for La Crosse County Board Supervisor for District 21.

Thank you, Dave Balduzzi for his years of service and for encouraging me to step forward to continue serving the residents of this district. As I shared in an earlier article, there are many issues I’m passionate about, but because so many people have asked, I want to talk more about one that matters deeply to our community: Lake Onalaska. 

District 21 is unlike any other in La Crosse County. It stretches around Lake Onalaska to the Black River and includes portions of the Town of Campbell on French Island, the Town of Onalaska and Brice Prairie, and part of the Town of Holland. What truly defines our district, though, is Lake Onalaska itself, one of the most significant natural resources in the entire Upper Mississippi River system.

At nearly 7,700 acres, Lake Onalaska is the widest point of the Mississippi River. Each year it draws nearly 3.8 million visitors and contributes more than $300 million to our regional economy. But its importance goes far beyond recreation and tourism. The lake supports over 300 bird species, more than 100 fish species, and serves as a major migration stop for waterfowl across North America. In fact, up to half of the continent’s canvasback duck population depends on this refuge during migration.

Simply put,  this lake isn’t just beautiful. It’s essential. It shapes our quality of life. Families fish here, boat here, hunt here, paddle here, and build their traditions here. Local businesses rely on it. Our communities are defined by it.

But Lake Onalaska is also in trouble.  Since its creation in 1937, sedimentation has caused the lake to lose roughly three-quarters of its original volume. Shallower water harms fish habitat, reduces water quality, accelerates vegetation growth, and threatens navigation and recreation. Protecting the lake requires more than saying you are an advocate or attending a few meetings, it requires knowledge, collaboration, and the ability to work across agencies and disciplines.

Through my work with the Lake Onalaska Rehabilitation Coalition, the Lake Onalaska Protection and Rehabilitation District, Sustain Our Rivers, and the Brice Prairie Conservation Association, I’ve spent a lot of time bringing scientists, engineers, elected officials, and community members together to move real solutions forward. We’ve worked directly with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to help break long-standing gridlock and advance restoration efforts.

That work includes protecting fish habitat, restoring overwintering areas, and supporting dredging and sediment management projects that are critical to the lake’s future.

Professionally, I served as an administrator where I advocated for people while ensuring responsible use of taxpayer dollars. I understand that good leadership requires balancing priorities, listening carefully, and making decisions grounded in both data and community values.

District 21 deserves representation that understands both the opportunity and the responsibility of living alongside one of Wisconsin’s most important natural resources.

Lake Onalaska is not just part of our scenery, it is part of who we are. It connects our communities, supports our economy, and shapes the future we leave to the next generation.

Serving this district takes more than showing up. It takes experience, collaboration, and commitment.

That is the commitment I bring, and I look forward to listening, learning, and working together for the future of District 21.

Jeff Fimreite
Candidate for La Crosse County Board Supervisor, District 21

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