River Falls Considers Dam Removal on the Kinnickinnic. The city reports that the dams generate about 1.3 percent of its electricity. Lower Falls with replaced Eagle Rock *Vertical drop from Upper to Lower falls approx. Help the Friends of the Kinni restore the Kinnickinnic River through dam removal! Dam removal may prove to be a particularly useful method for reducing some forms of ecosystem impairment, but it needs to be considered as part of a broad, watershed-scale management plan (Stanford et al. The MOU … The coffer dam in the center is holding back the KK River flow and diverting it into the pipes so that the channel is dry enough to demolish and replace. Why Dam Removal? St. Croix 360 is powered by a broad community of St. Croix River-loving people. ” – Dan Wilcox, River Falls Journal. This stretch of the Willow River, just northeast of Burkhardt, WI within the Willow River State Park was restored with the 1998 removal of the Mounds Dam. River Falls, WI – On Thursday, Oct. 1, the City of River Falls began to draw down Lake Louise, one of two dam impoundments on the Kinnickinnic River and part of the City’s hydroelectric operations. Dam removal is the process of demolishing a dam, leaving a river to flow freely. No huge waterfall, simply a small waterfall framed below a large bridge. “We believe the hydroelectric facilities have outlived their usefulness, should be retired, and the dams eventually removed so that we can all enjoy the beauty of the natural falls, and our river can run free again,” Friends of the Kinni states on its website. Restore the Kinnickinnic River Through Dam Removal A view of the Upper “Junction Falls” Dam on the Kinnickinnic River today in the City of River Falls, compared to an artist’s rendering of the restored Junction Falls Waterfall after dam removal. (Photo from University of Wisconsin – River Falls archive, via Friends of the Kinni), “Dams are built structures that get old. For events elsewhere in the watershed, contact St. Croix 360 directly. The complete report is NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE here. Decisions begin flowing in Kinnickinnic River dam debate. There is also momentum nationally for dam removal. City officials drained the lake to inspect the dam, then realized the $100,000 in damages was too much to repair. last meeting prior to the July 20th Tech Talk on Dam Removal. If it is, removing the dams would contribute to Wisconsin’s status as leading the nation in dam removal. The plan as passed has a target date of 2026 for removal of the Powell Dam, and a target date range of 2035 to 2040 for removal of the Junction Falls Dam. In February 2018, the River Falls city council unanimously approved a plan to decommission and remove the dams. Enter your information to the right and click START WRITING at the bottom to send an e-mail to the City Council! Post was not sent - check your email addresses! The dam above it — Junction Falls Dam — will be removed after 2035. With the process beginning again this year, a citizens group called Friends of the Kinni is asking if it makes sense to plan for their removal at this time. As Washington State’s Elwha River runs free, a habitat for fish and wildlife is restored. 8. More than two dozen people took their turn at the podium last week in River Falls, Wis., to debate the future of the Kinnickinnic River and the fate of two century-old hydroelectric dams. The hydroelectric dam has stopped generating electricity, and it is scheduled to be removed in 2026. Kinnickinnic River Dam Removal Restoration: Concept Plan N November 2016 t. t. Lake George Wetland Park 5 1 LVBrown Studio LLC. That means the dam will be removed — and the impoundment will drain. Kinnickinnic River Dam Removal Restoration: Concept Plan N November 2016 t. t. Lake George Wetland Park 5 1 LVBrown Studio LLC Now, the area of the former 15-acre body of water at the southwest corner of the city will be mostly dry. RIVER FALLS, Wis. - The City of River Falls, Wisconsin made a years-in-the-making decision on a couple of controversial dams on Tuesday night. That pushes temperatures to the threshold for the river’s famous trout. Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. In it, they describe the salmon crisis as being at a breaking point. David Gregg Town of River … Read More. It is an independent news source produced by Greg Seitz, with past support from the St. Croix River Association. 2020 Not only did the neighbors provide their input on the project, they were actively involved in … The Friends of the Kinni solicited help to illustrate their vision for beautifying and revitalizing a free-flowing Kinnickinnic river through the heart of downtown River Falls, WI. He does not mourn the passing of Lake Luise, but welcomes the rebirth of an energized stretch of the Kinnickinnic River. When the negative environmental effects outweigh the benefits Group advocates for restoring natural flow to reveal famous falls and keep the water cold. It is undertaken for a variety of reasons that include environmental rehabilitation, structural weakness and maintenance expense. Success: Holy Jim Creek, San Juan Creek, and Trabuco Creek. “It did not make a lot of sense to refill it,” said city spokeswoman Mary Zimmerman. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. On the Baraboo River, dam removal completed in 2001 created the opportunity for a Riverwalk popular with residents and tourists. Lake Louise River Falls, WI Photo credit Will Zimmermann. This stretch of the Willow River, just northeast of Burkhardt, WI within the Willow River State Park was restored with the 1998 removal of the Mounds Dam. Recently, he was a principal contributor to the dam removal report prepared for Friends of the Kinni. Enter your information to the right and click START WRITING at the bottom to send an e-mail to the City Council! California. While the public sentiment is already heavily in favor of dam removal, I would encourage everyone to attend the planning charrette to continue to make your opinion known and to ensure that we restore a free flowing Kinnickinnic River and to bring the falls back to River Falls. Large dam removals, like those on the Klamath River in California and Oregon, or the hotly debated Snake River dams in Washington, get lots of media attention. Harbor commissioners on Thursday agreed to sign onto a memorandum of understanding that includes the county and the Klamath River Renewal Corporation. Rivers have always provided fundamental and vital services for mankind and the environment. The most beloved trout stream in the St. Croix Valley could be restored to its natural state if a grassroots effort in River Falls, Wisconsin is successful. River Falls has voted to remove two dams in the Kinnickinnic River. Exposed Upper Falls 2. • The city and stakeholder organizations will form a public-private partnership which will seek funding for these and other river corridor projects. Dam removal will expose the entire length of the Kinnickinnic River to greater future risk. KRRC’s sole focus is to accomplish this first step. the report was presented to the Kinni River Corridor Committee during their. RIVER FALLS DAM REMOVAL AND RIVER RESTORATION FEASIBILITY STUDY 5 2. The primary benefit of the dams is the electricity they generate. Trout, for example, prefer colder water in flowing streams — and can’t handle the warm, stagnant waters of Lake Luise. CHECK OUT UPCOMING EVENTS on our Facebook Page. November, 2016 t W. Cascade Ave. t 1. minneapolis 7 mins ago. In River Falls, though, the power generated is minimal. The complete restoration of the Kinnickinnic River through dam removal is a unique opportunity to make exceptional use of this public waterway resource, restore the "Junction Falls" waterfall along with a full mile of world class trout stream in the heart of our community, improve the water quality of the Lower Kinni, increase opportunities for recreational and white-water kayaking, create additional urban open … removed in order to achieve Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) goal of providing optimal temperatures for cold water trout habitat in the Lower Kinni It will be a benefit to the environment and to tourism, predicted Westhuis. He said draining the lake is good for life in the river. 2018 View north from Cleveland Avenue. The City of River Falls, Wisconsin has undertaken the “Kinnickinnic River Corridor Planning Process”. the report was presented to the Kinni River Corridor Committee during their . 25 feet. Kinni Corridor Project In February 2019, the City of River Falls completed a two-year planning process focused on the Kinnickinnic River Corridor and the existing and future relationship of the community with the river and adjoining urban and undeveloped areas. River Walk NOTES Lake Louise Floodplain Park Foster Conservation Area w Waste Water Treatment Plant Existing yard waste site River Falls City Hall ark Power Facility JUNCTION FALLS POWELL FALLS w 0 150 300 600 ˜ . The River Falls Municipal Utility owns and operates the Powell and Junction Falls dams as a hydroelectric project licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission under docket #P-10489. Please visit our submission page to send tips, press releases, and other news. Klamath River | Photo by Daniel Nylen. At this point, the Friends of the Kinni are primarily asking for dam removal to be considered, with extensive studies needed to see if it’s feasible. Learn more. Dam removal is the process of demolishing a dam, leaving a river to flow freely.It is undertaken for a variety of reasons that include environmental rehabilitation, structural weakness and maintenance expense. Can it be a peek into the future of what will be experienced on the Kinnickinnic River. Today it courses through a beautiful valley, with a mile of hiking trails along its banks, in what used to be the bottom of a lake. St. Croix 360 builds support for river stewardship, and connects people and organizations. According to the group, the water warms up by about five degrees as it passes through the lakes behind the dams during summer. English: This photograph was originally taken by John Carbutt between 1864 - 1865 and published as a stereoview in a set of scenery pictures of the Upper Mississippi, Minnesota and the Vicinity prior to the construction of any dam on the Kinnickinnic River in River Falls, Wisconsin. Inter-Fluve completed our Feasibility Report earlier this summer and. This paper reviews the possible ecological impacts of dam removal using various case studies. That will drain Lake George. The River Alliance of Wisconsin is sponsoring a project to develop a Feasibility Study for restoration of the Kinnickinnic River through removal of a dam in the City of River Falls. Middle Falls 3. This isn't a huge tourist attraction or unique photo opportunity. Rivers are powerful, constant and patient. 53. (Photo from University of Wisconsin – River Falls archive, via Friends of the Kinni) “Dams are built structures that get old. A documentary about the issue just won the audience award at the South by Southwest Film Festival. Dam removal continues to garner attention as a potential river restoration tool. As a part of this process, the City Council is scheduled to decide on February 27th, 2018 whether or not to surrender the City’s Federal dam license for the River Falls Hydroelectric Project (FERC #10489). A meeting Monday will be the first significant opportunity to learn about the options and weigh in. More than 130 dams have been removed in the past 60 years, more than 50 of them since 1990. ‘Help put the falls back in River Falls” is the slogan of a group called Friends of the Kinni that has been advocating for removing two dams that cover the River Falls, Wis. has voted to go ahead and remove two dams in the Kinnickinnic River Wednesday, April 17, 2019. The Friends of the Kinni solicited help to illustrate their vision for beautifying and revitalizing a free-flowing Kinnickinnic river through the heart of downtown River Falls, WI. For immediate release: the Kinnickinnic River Corridor Project. For the River Falls Dam Removal Feasibility Study (Inter-Fluve 2017), the WDNR completed an official Endangered Resources Review (ERR) for the Kinnickinnic River through the impoundments to the confluence of the St Croix River and deemed no adverse impacts to fish and mussels under a dam removal scenario (Inter-Fluve 2017). Nearly a year after the River Falls, Wis., City Council voted to remove two century-old hydroelectric dams on the Kinnickinnic River, it has settled on a plan for the future of the river corridor. The goal is to restore the river by reducing phosphorus levels to 360 tons/year. The flood damaged a hydroelectric dam, which held back the river waters to create the lake in an impoundment. More than two dozen people took their turn at the podium last week in River Falls, Wis., to debate the future of the Kinnickinnic River and the fate of two century-old hydroelectric dams. Talks have begun in the city of River Falls about the possibility of removing two dams from the Kinnikinnick River, one of the state’s most beloved trout streams. Today it courses through a beautiful valley, with a mile of hiking trails along its banks, in what used to be the bottom of a lake. The Junction Falls Dam will continue to generate power until it is dismantled, said Utilities Director Kevin Westhuis. The dams also have submerged several of the waterfalls which gave the city its name. This partnership will also address any projected revenue loss from accelerated dam removal. Learn more ». last meeting prior to the July 20th Tech Talk on Dam Removal. The final Corridor Plan establishes a future vision for the area and strategies for implementation. The city grew up next to it. “It did not make a lot of sense to refill it,” said city spokeswoman Mary Zimmerman. Removal of the four hydroelectric dams is the first crucial step to restore the health of the Klamath River and the communities that depend upon it. In 1904, a wooden dam at Powell Falls created Lake Luise. Republicans blast MLB for moving All-Star Game. Kinnickinnic River (Wisconsin) Removing two aging dams on the Kinnickinnic River in River Falls would revitalize and restore the Lower Kinni’s cold water habitat, resurrect an entire mile of this world class stream, and fully restore the historic Junction Falls … (Jean Pieri / Pioneer Press) Show full articles without "Continue Reading" button for {0} hours. The plan as passed has a target date of 2026 for removal of the Powell Dam, and a target date range of 2035 to 2040 for removal of the Junction Falls Dam. By Greg Seitz | March 23, 2014 | 2 minute read, Junction Falls of the Kinnickinnic in 1865. To the left is a municipal power plant. The tribal leaders sent a letter to the White House and to Congressional representatives in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Though the nonprofit tasked with Klamath River dam removal is about to submit its definite plan to federal regulators, Del Norte County and the Crescent City Harbor District are still worried about potential negative impacts. 1 officer killed, another hospitalized after man drives car into barrier near US Capitol. Lake Luise in River Falls, Wis., is a victim of the Kinnickinnic River flood of June 2020. Titled “Dam Removal Alternatives,” the event is open to the public; refreshments will be served. One of the biggest challenges facing the St. Croix River is harmful blooms of algae in in the lower river, due to excess nutrients in runoff. The third option — to keep the upper dam but remove the lower — was what the utility board approved last week at City Hall. When both dams are removed, the river will plunge about 75 feet, restoring the city’s namesake falls. River Falls has voted to remove two dams in the Kinnickinnic River. The City of River Falls, Wisconsin has undertaken the “Kinnickinnic River Corridor Planning Process”. The City of River Falls, Wisconsin has undertaken the “Kinnickinnic River Corridor Planning Process”. Facing pressure, Wisconsin Assembly cancels vote on repealing mask mandate, Pro-Trump priest leaves Wisconsin diocese after livestreaming exorcisms of voter fraud, Wisconsin pharmacist to plead guilty to sabotaging COVID-19 vaccine, Wisconsin Senate votes to repeal Wisconsin mask mandate, Wisconsin DNR board refuses to set early wolf hunt. Westhuis said it will be an improvement for kayakers, who will have a churning river to navigate. “The river is headed toward restoration,” he said, “which is what the community wanted to see happen.”, Like us on Facebook to see similar stories. It has made the lake almost two feet deep in most places, he said. The dam above it — Junction Falls Dam — will be removed after 2035. Floods damaged hydroelectric dams, obstructing river water and creating lakes in reservoirs. “Now we are down to just two dams on the Kinnickinnic, and maybe in a few years the Kinnickinnic again will be a free flowing river. The 26-mile river is designated as a class-one trout stream. For these reasons, it is necessary to remove these barriers to return rivers to their natural, free-flowing state. But smaller dam removals are quietly happening all across the country. The increasing possibility of dam removal through the FERC relicensing process, as well as through federal and state agency actions, makes a critical examination of the ecological benefits and costs essential. That means the dam will be removed — and the impoundment will drain. Speaker: Aaron Mason, Park Superintendent at Willow River State Park What was experienced on the Willow River? After 117 years, parts of the lake have accumulated 12 feet of silt. Restoration of the Kinnickinnic River through Dam Removal. In the end, the citys Utility Advisory Board voted to re-license the upper Junction Falls dam and eventually remove the lower Powell Falls dam. To accomplish effective river restoration, dam removal will likely need to be coupled with other protection and restoration practices. On Feb. 27, the River Falls Journal reported that the River Falls City Council approved a long-term plan to tear down the hydroelectric dams. City officials drained the lake to inspect the dam, then realized the $100,000 in damages was too much to repair. Suspect dead. Introduction Powell Falls and Junction Falls Dams impound the Kinnickinnic River (the “Kinni”) within the City of River Falls, Wisconsin (“the City”, “River Falls”), approximately 10 miles upstream of the river’s Lake Luise in River Falls, Wisconsin is the victim of the June 2020 Kinnickinnic River flood. LVBrown Studios collaborated with Inter-Fluve Inc. to develop dam removal feasibility plans for the areas surrounding Junction Falls and Powell dam. World’s Largest Dam Removal Unleashes U.S. River After Century of Electric Production. 2021-01-28 13:04:06 –. In 2016, he led the River Falls’ investigation of accumulated sediments in Lake George and Lake Louise and the impact of sediment on the Kinnickinnic River. Junction Falls of the Kinnickinnic in 1865. One of the dams would be targeted for removal in … A literature review and Dam removal in River Falls should benefit Kinnickinnic River flow – Twin Cities. The only manmade obstacles in its path are two small hydroelectric dams in the heart of downtown River Falls. If the need for dam removal becomes more immediate due to ecological reasons, it can be removed sooner. Mr. Mason will talk about the drawdown of Little Falls Lake and the process for removing and replacing the dam… Decisions begin flowing in Kinnickinnic River dam debate By Kevin Giles January 20, 2018 GMT More than two dozen people took their turn at the podium last week in River Falls, Wis., to debate the future of the Kinnickinnic River and the fate of two century-old hydroelectric dams.