LAKE DELTON, Wis. (AP) -- Efforts to refill vanished Lake Delton are under way.

Workers closed the gates on the lake's renovated dam Wednesday morning.

That shut-off will allow Dell Creek to start filling up the lake basin again.

The lake drained away to the Wisconsin River in June after heavy storms eroded its banks, taking five shoreline homes with it.

Video of the homes breaking up was broadcast around the world.

Engineers plan to keep the lake about half-full through the winter.

That could take weeks, depending on the weather.

They'll let it fill up in spring, in time for anglers, boaters and water skiers to get back on the water.