St. Croix 360

River news, inspiration, and stewardship

  • Share News
  • Events Calendar
  • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Donate

River Falls commissions recommend keeping Kinnickinnic River dams for now

Years of debate over the future of the dams results in recommendation for future removal, comes down to city council vote on Feb. 27.

By Greg Seitz | February 12, 2018 | 2 minute read

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Print
  • More
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr

Junction Falls Dam, just below the Winter Street Bridge. (Photo courtesy Kinni Corridor Project Committee)

Two River Falls city committees have recommended retaining two hydroelectric dams on the Kinnickinnic River for the time being.

The dams on one of the St. Croix River’s most famous tributaries have been the subject of more than four years of discussion in the community. The recommendations next go to the city council for a final vote on Feb. 27.

On Jan. 15, the Municipal Utilities Board recommended renewing the federal license for one of the dams and surrendering the license for the other dam, with removal possible “sometime in the future.”


Advertisement


On Jan. 25, the Kinni Corridor Project Committee, a special committee leading the the dam decision-making process, issued a final report (PDF) on its work and passed a revised version of the recommendation. The committee recommended the city council vote to remove the Powell Falls (lower) dam by 2026 and retaining the Junction Falls (upper) dam for another 22-30 years.

Remove and restore

Powell Dam (Photo courtesy Kinni Corridor Project Committee)

Some river advocates have been advocating for the removal of both dams as a means of restoring the treasured trout stream, revealing long-hidden falls, and improving a valuable asset for the city’s downtown area.

Local organizations Friends of the Kinni and the Kinnickinic River Land Trust, as well as the St. Croix River Association, the Kiap-TU-Wish Trout Unlimited chapter, the River Alliance of Wisconsin, and other groups all expressed support for removing the dams.

Friends of the Kinni is urging the city council to overrule the recommendations and remove the dams now. The group is seeking signatures on a petition calling for the immediate cancellation of the federal license, and a plan to remove the dams as soon as possible. Read more and sign the pro-removal petition here »

Watch and learn

Concept plan map courtesy Friends of the Kinni.

The Kinni Corridor Project Committee examined the dam removal options in the context of a larger planning and engagement process. They developed concepts of how River Falls could bring back its eponymous falls and open up the river for recreation.

One key aspect of the corridor committee’s recommendation is that removal of the lower dam be carefully studied to understand the costs and benefits, to inform the future removal of the upper dam.

The committee also called for a faster removal of the upper dam if ecological conditions degrade unexpectedly.

Learn more about the Kinni Corridor Project Committee on its website, and download its final report here (PDF).

City council actions

The River Falls City Council will receive the recommendations tomorrow (Feb. 13) and will vote on the issue in two weeks:

Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018
6:30 – 8 p.m.
River Falls City Hall
222 N Lewis Street, River Falls, WI 54022

Video: Take a trip down the river

Travel from the headwaters to the St. Croix in this video produced by the City of River Falls:

Conservation news on St. Croix 360 is supported by the St. Croix River Association, which works to protect, restore and celebrate the St. Croix River and its watershed.

Related articles:

Comment Cancel reply

Follow

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Features

Farmer and conservation group work together to protect St. Croix River bluff

Watch an ice fisherman catch a 120-pound sturgeon on the St. Croix

Registration open for annual six-day paddle down the Namekagon River

Latest News

Swans Chillin’: White on White

Stillwater farmers find balance between growing food and St. Croix stewardship

Teachers on the River workshops scheduled this summer

Hudson firefighters rescue man from truck sinking through ice

“Wildly Successful Farming” benefits people, wildlife, lakes, and rivers

Supported By:

St. Croix 360 Seeks Sponsors

Support St. Croix River news and connect with 10,000 passionate river fans each month.

More information »

About

St. Croix 360 builds support for river stewardship, and connects people and organizations. It is an independent news source produced by Greg Seitz, with support in part from the St. Croix River Association.

Donate to St. Croix 360 today »

Story of 360

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 goal is to restore the river by reducing phosphorus levels to 360 tons/year. Learn more »

Share Your News

St. Croix 360 is powered by a broad community of St. Croix River-loving people. Please visit our submission page to send tips, press releases, and other news.

Submit an Event

Lower St. Croix: St. Croix 360 partners with online calendar St. Croix Splash.

  • Submit your events to Splash.
  • Share it with St. Croix 360 for promotion.

For events elsewhere in the watershed, contact St. Croix 360 directly.

St. Croix 360 Syndication

To help increase awareness of the St. Croix River, news organizations and other outlets are free to share St. Croix 360 content, as long as you follow a few simple rules.

Republish St. Croix 360 stories »

Partners

  • St. Croix River Association
  • St. Croix Watershed Research Station
  • ArtReach St. Croix
  • You and all St. Croix 360's readers!
Handcrafted in May Township, Minnesota. Please donate today »
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.