The Friends of the Forestville Dam Millpond will not have their day in court after Judge D. Todd Ehlers dismissed the case on Thursday.

The lawsuit dates back to January 18th, 2021 when the Friends of the Forestville Dam Millpond charged Door County officials with mismanaging the millpond with its drawdown efforts. The county began the process in 2019 in an effort to stave off future invasive plants and fish. The group has said the drawdown sent sediment downstream, which would wreck other habitats along the way. It wants the millpond to be kept at a consistent depth of just under 600 feet. After hosting oral arguments on Thursday, court records show that Judge Ehlers denied the Friends’ group request for a summary judgment in the case, but granted the County’s request for the case to be dismissed.

Whether or not the county will request to be reimbursed for court costs is still unknown.

STATEMENT FROM THE FRIENDS OF THE FORESTVILLE DAM

“We are of course disappointed with the Court’s decision and we will be evaluating our options going forward.  We continue to believe that a minimum water level should be established for the millpond and the benefit of all those who rely on it, and that Door County should evaluate the impacts of the uncontrolled transfer of sediment downstream during the drawdown. Our goal has always been to protect the Millpond and the Ahnapee River and we will continue to fight to ensure that it can be enjoyed by all.”