Menasha lock to reopen for one day after it was closed due to invasive round gobies

MENASHA — The Menasha lock is reopening for a day after it was closed earlier this month following the confirmation of invasive round gobies in the lower Fox River.

Post-Crescent Media reports the lock will be open Thursday, October 1st, to let boaters take away their boats for winter storage. Fox River Navigational System Authority CEO Bob Stark says the lock closure stranded boats that are too large to be transported by trailers.

The state Department of Natural Resources said in early September that round gobies were caught immediately below the Neenah dam, and the authority closed the Menasha lock to stop their spread. The aggressive, bottom-dwelling fish is considered an invasive species.

Department of Natural Resources officials will be at the lock Thursday to make sure the water is chemically treated so no gobies pass through the lock.