HOME

Dam relicensing negotiations pay off for fish, anglers, boaters

3/16/2006
LADYSMITH – Anglers, boaters and paddlers enjoying the Flambeau River and the Red Cedar River are the latest to benefit from state biologists’ efforts to assure Wisconsin’s largest working dams generate more benefits for people and less environmental damage.

Capitalizing on a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision, Department of Natural Resources staff, often working with conservation groups, have negotiated operating conditions that benefit recreational users at dozens of dams as the dams seek renewal of their federal operating licenses.

Their efforts have resulted in dozens of new boat ramps, fishing piers, canoe portages and other recreational facilities, says Bob Martini, a 30-year DNR veteran recently appointed to coordinate such dam relicensing issues.

Perhaps more importantly for the long-term future of the rivers, fish and recreational users, Martini says, these efforts have secured more natural river flows that are better for fish, other aquatic creatures and paddlers; passageways that allow lake sturgeon and other fish to navigate dams and return to historic spawning grounds; and measures to protect fish from the blades of turbines and other power-generating equipment.

“Federal licenses are intended to protect the public’s interest in riverine systems for 30 to 40 years, and we’ve made substantial progress protecting and improving Wisconsin’s rivers through the licensing process,” Martini says.

Federally-licensed hydroelectric dams comprise less than 4 percent of Wisconsin’s 3,800 dams, most of which are small, privately owned and built to create ponds or reservoirs for recreation and aesthetic purposes, according to Meg Galloway, Wisconsin chief dam safety engineer.

The 130 federally regulated hydro dams in Wisconsin are located on the state’s largest, most popular waters, and most of them continue to generate electricity to serve local communities, to sell on the market, or to power the paper industry, although today, hydropower accounts for only about 3 percent of electricity produced in the state.

Between 1989 and 2010, more than 70 dams will have had their federal operating licenses renewed in Wisconsin, more than in any other state. As the licenses have come up for renewal, Wisconsin has been using a landmark 1994 U.S. Supreme Court decision to obtain more favorable operating conditions. The court ruled that states had broad authority under the Clean Water Act to protect not only water quality but water quantity that flows in rivers and streams.

“We appreciate the willingness of power companies to work with us,” says Heath Benike, a DNR fish biologist stationed in Barron who has been involved in several dam relicensing cases. “That dam owners made these improvements while preserving the capacity ratings of the hydroplants is good news for the environment and good news for local energy users.”

DNR has never opposed license renewal, believing hydropower provides a reliable source of clean and renewable energy, says Jeff Scheirer, another DNR fisheries biologist who is a veteran of dam relicensing negotiations. “But we try to assure that the requirements placed in the new licenses will adequately protect fish wildlife habitat, water quality and recreation.”

Such beneficial impacts are likely to be seen this year on the Red Cedar River near Menomonie and the Flambeau River near Ladysmith, two of the latest waters to be affected by dam relicensing cases. Under the agreement negotiated by Scheirer and other DNR staff, starting in 2005, Dairyland Power Cooperative began operating the dam to better mimic natural river flows to protect fish, wildlife, and recreational opportunities in the Flambeau River without reducing the total amount of energy generated.

Altogether, Dairyland's agreement will restore 15 miles of in-stream habitat in two free-flowing river segments and 556 acres of reservoir habitat in two impoundments.

“Anglers, canoeists, boaters and other recreation users should notice that water levels and flows fluctuate less throughout the day,” Scheirer says. “Stable flows mean more suitable habitat, more fish production and better fishing.”

DNR negotiations with Xcel Energy regarding the Tainter Lake and Lake Menomin dams near Menomonie in Dunn County produced changes that will benefit fish, anglers and other recreational users as well as local energy users. During fall 2005, the utility replaced outdated flashboards with a more effective rubber bladder dam on Tainter Lake to avoid the flashboards washing out during large floods, causing the lake level to drop five feet before the flashboards could be replaced. This often happened during peak spawning periods for panfish and bass.

“We’re optimistic that fish spawning activities as well as fishing opportunities will no longer be interrupted by fluctuating water levels and that sport fish populations will benefit from stable water levels beginning in 2006,” says Benike, who participated in the negotiations.

He also believes that Xcel’s new agreement to operate the two dams will allow more natural flows in the Red Cedar River downstream of Menomonie. More specifically, it will significantly improve aquatic habitat for many endangered and threatened fish and wildlife species located in Lower Chippewa River State Natural Area as well as recreational use opportunities for local tubers, canoeists, paddlers and owners of small motor boats.

For more information on dam relicensing and Wisconsin efforts to improve dam operation to benefit recreational users and fish and wildlife, check out the February 2005 issue of the Natural Resources magazine, found online at <http://dnr.wi.gov>.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Martini (715) 365-8969

Click Here To Return To The Previous Page