Purpose
This project assisted the city of River Falls, Wisconsin, in the development of a comprehensive plan to assess the proposed relicensing of the Junction Falls Development and the decommissioning and removal of the dam at the Powell Falls Development. Both developments are part of the River Falls Hydroelectric Project.
Location
Both the Junction Falls Development and the Powell Falls Development are located along the Kinnickinnic River in the city of River Falls, in Pierce County, Wisconsin.
Description
The city of River Falls has proposed relicensing the Junction Falls Development and decommissioning and removing the dam at the Powell Falls Development and has filed its Revised Study Plan (RSP) with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). This plan proposes ten separate studies to gather additional information needed to adequately analyze the potential effects of the continued operation of the Junction Falls Development and information needed to adequately analyze the potential effects of the proposed decommissioning and dam removal of the Powell Falls Development. In June 2019, the city of River Falls requested assistance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Planning Assistance to States (PAS) Program for study implementation.
Status
In December 2019, the city of River Falls and the Corps executed a PAS project partnership agreement for a comprehensive plan. The Corps directly assisted with seven of the ten surveys. The following seven surveys were either completed in-house or directly contracted: hydrologic and hydraulic evaluation, Lake George shoreline habitat assessment, aquatic invasive species survey, riverine habitat evaluation below Powell Falls, recreation facility inventory/recreation use assessment, cultural resources study, mussel survey. All field work has been conducted, and the entire project will be closed out in fiscal year 2022.
Authority
The study was authorized by Section 22 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1974 (Public Law 93‒251), as amended. The study was conducted under the Corps’ PAS program, following the 50/50 cost-share formula with the non-federal sponsor.
Funding
The total study cost was estimated to be $420,000 ($210,000 federal/$210,000 non-federal). The city of River Falls, Wisconsin, and the non-federal sponsor provided their cost share in work-in-kind.
Total Federal Funds Allocated $210,000