Last year’s abnormally wet October postponed a drawdown of the Minnesota Falls dam that would have allowed for an engineering firm to determine the dam’s present condition as well as the future effects on the river associated with its removal. On August 9 the drawdown will resume.
The engineering study is a collaborative effort between dam owner, Xcel Energy, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, which has determined that the over 100 year old dam has deteriorated into a state of hazard.
The dam was a source for electricity generation from 1905 to 1961; from 1961 to the Minnesota Valley Generating Plant’s closure in 2004 the upstream reservoir provided water for cooling. Xcel representatives say the dam has now reached the end of its useful life.
As a potential liability, Xcel is considering options that involve either the repair, lowering or full removal of the dam. The company has hired the Minneapolis firm, Barr Engineering, to undertake an environmental and cost analysis that they will utilize when deciding upon a course of action.
During the year long postponement the engineering firm has remained active putting together information on bedrock and water depths while also developing hydraulic modeling. Xcel Senior Environmental Specialist Jim Bodensteiner said that a public hearing, in which new findings will be presented, is tentatively scheduled for mid-September.
The drawdown will involve the lowering of the dam three to seven feet in incremental stages and will most likely be completed in November.
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Last year’s abnormally wet October postponed a drawdown of the Minnesota Falls dam that would have allowed for an engineering firm to determine the dam’s present condition as well as the future effects on the river associated with its removal. On August 9 the drawdown will resume.
The engineering study is a collaborative effort between dam owner, Xcel Energy, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, which has determined that the over 100 year old dam has deteriorated into a state of hazard.
The dam was a source for electricity generation from 1905 to 1961; from 1961 to the Minnesota Valley Generating Plant’s closure in 2004 the upstream reservoir provided water for cooling. Xcel representatives say the dam has now reached the end of its useful life.
As a potential liability, Xcel is considering options that involve either the repair, lowering or full removal of the dam. The company has hired the Minneapolis firm, Barr Engineering, to undertake an environmental and cost analysis that they will utilize when deciding upon a course of action.
During the year long postponement the engineering firm has remained active putting together information on bedrock and water depths while also developing hydraulic modeling. Xcel Senior Environmental Specialist Jim Bodensteiner said that a public hearing, in which new findings will be presented, is tentatively scheduled for mid-September.
The drawdown will involve the lowering of the dam three to seven feet in incremental stages and will most likely be completed in November.
