Editorial
Kinni dam removal has finally moved forward, but not fast enough
March 1, 2018
A resolution was finally approved regarding the removal of the two dams that are blocking the Kinnickinnic River through River Falls. The final decision was unanimously in favor of eventually removing both dams, though the hydroelectric license will be renewed one last time.
This decision has been almost two years in the making, officially, and some members of the public have unofficially wanted to remove the dams for far longer. The wait is not over, however; it will be another eight years before the first of the dams – the Powell Falls facility – will be removed.
Part of the reason the project is taking so long is because the city will be working all the while to ensure that the stream is restored properly after the removal of the dams. The first dam will be a test run for when they move forward to take out the larger Junction Falls dam.
A bigger reason, however, is cost. An amendment was made on the resolution to specify that no city property tax dollars will be going towards these projects. Instead, the money will be raised by public-private partnerships through citizens and interest groups. This isn’t a fast process, and it will take years for the planning and fundraising to come together.
It seems like a bit of a stretch that the extensive funds necessary to remove these dams and revamp a river will be fully covered without the help of tax dollars. We think that the city should reconsider their promise that no property tax dollars will be spent on the project. At this rate, the current generation will not be seeing many of the resulting benefits from the project.
Overall, the dam removal has a lot of potential to enhance the city. One of the main points that the council brought forth was the tourism aspect. Restoring fast flow to the river through town will make the surrounding property much more aesthetically pleasing and encourage business owners to set up shop along its banks.
Faster rivers are also better for recreation. A continuous river flow will be more appealing to kayakers, because they will not have to interrupt their trip to portage around the dams. A faster, narrower river with more gravel is also better trout habitat, which will draw in fishermen.
The dams are also on their last legs. Studies of their structural integrity have shown that they are in need of repairs. The longer we take to remove them, the more the city has to spend on simply making sure that they don’t crumble on their own. The dams are generating a small amount of electricity for the city, but it is only a small percentage of the city’s power usage and does not make up for the cost of keeping these dams alive.
Already, the city’s recommendation has moved the project completion date forward by about 10 years. This suggests that it is possible to do this quicker. We think the city needs to take advantage of the momentum gained by the project, otherwise people will begin to lose interest.
Comments
Michael Page on 12 Mar 2018: Thanks for putting together this article and covering the issue of the dams in the Kinnickinnic River. Keep your ear to the ground, this resolution passed by the City is just the beginning of this conversation, it isn't the end result. The end result will be the restoration of the Kinnickinnic River through removal of BOTH of the dams, and I sure hope it will happen a LOT sooner than 2040! Keep up the good work, and keep covering this story, there's going to be a lot of great news yet to come.
Christopher P Gagne on 01 Mar 2018: Great article in general. There will be ongoing maintenance needs for the dams. The council voted to require all costs over $5,000 go before the Utility Advisory Board and costs over $15,000 go before the city council for review and approval. There is always maintence with any facility or structure. I am under the belief that very little money will be stuck into the lower, Powell Falls, dam. The fact of the matter is both dams, the hydros, and the structure pose no safety issues and they both bring a return on investment in regards to surplus$$$$$ and energy. If the city was to shut them down prematurely the residents electric rates would increase due to loss in renewable energy(bought and paid for) production that would ultimately need to be purchased from WPPI. I agree the lower, Powell Falls dam will need some rehab in the next years years, and that is a great point in to why the dams will be removed and restoration underway in the timeline put forth in the approved council resolution. We have to remember the work and staff time that a project to this scale involves. We also have to remember the other projects, goals, and priorities that are before the city currently....This item is but one in the cities long-term planning. As with any issue brought before us, I truly believe that this process has brought out the best of the River Falls community. Everybody didn’t get exactly what and when they wanted it, but there was civil community input, discussions and compromise on both sides of the issue. True community based thinking at its best. It is great that we as a community can come together, work through a huge community decision, such as this, and find what’s best for all residents we serve. http://www.kinnicorridor.org