Experts: Hog Island Inlet Contaminated, Possible Health Hazard

Ten Years After Clean-Up, Safety Concerns Outweigh Proposal for Disc Golf Course

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A citizen–driven project has proposed turning Hog Island into the world’s first ever and only disc golf island.

The reasons why officials are recommending not to put this golf course on that island may leave you shocked.

“But it’s a beautiful island, if anyone can get on there, I’ve walked around the whole thing,” said Vukelich.

For 20 years this land has been Mary Becky Vukelich’s backyard.

“We used to go swimming at Hog Island,” she smiled.

“I can remember as a kid going in there and seining minnows,” laughed Mark Liebaert, Chair of the Land Conservation Committee for Douglas County. “I’m not sure that was a good idea, but I do remember doing that.”

But a recent citizen–driven project to bring a disc golf course to Hog Island has raised health concerns about the land.

“Shouldn’t walk in it, shouldn’t play in it, shouldn’t breath it,” Liebaert said.

Douglas County board members tell FOX 21 these safety issues date back decades, with by–products from nearby Murphy Oil contaminating the waters.

“Because of the Newton Creek that emptied from the refinery into this very shallow, contained, almost like a little inland lake,” explained Liebaert.

In 2005 the area underwent a $6.3 million, federally-funded cleanup project.

“If we said it was on a scale that was contaminated to a 10, and pristine is a one, let’s say we decontaminated it to a level five,” Liebaert said.

A few years later a new project began, trying to remove invasive species from the water.

“We have had some workers down there who have had to go and get examined because of apparent exposure while they were doing work in there,” Liebaert told FOX 21.

According to the Wisconsin DNR, people exposed encountered symptoms including headaches, burning eyes, coughing, and sore throat.

Now, 10 years later, officials say it’s still not safe.

“The recommendation from the Land Conservation Committee is that is not an appropriate site for this project,” declared Liebaert.

At least not safe enough for public recreation.

“Where the boardwalk would be built is actually where the most contamination still resides,” he added.

Leading some board members to pose the question, ‘Why are there no warning signs posted on the island?’

“In my mind, I believe we should have more signage, if it truly is that toxic down there,” said Douglas County Board Supervisor Alan Jaques. “Absolutely it is the public’s right to know.”

“Nobody’s ever told us about it, they’ve never come and pre–warned us or anything,” Vukelich added.

Which brings us to the most important unanswered question, ‘Just how toxic is the water now?’

That’s still to be determined.

After requesting multiple interviews over the course of three weeks with the Douglas County Land Conservation Department, they declined to comment for this story.

A 2012 study done by the Wisconsin DNR concluded that people who choose to go into these waters should wear gloves, boots and waders, and avoid direct contact with the skin and inhalation of vapors.