RIVER FALLS — As part of the Kinni Corridor Project, the City of River Falls welcomed members of the public June 4 to hear from two organizations that are playing a large role in the project being the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Park Service.

The project, which has been in the works for nearly a decade, includes plans to reshape and restore parts of the Kinnickinnic River and its surrounding area.

“From 2016 to 2018, the Kinni Corridor Planning process took place which culminated in the city council deciding to go forward to remove both dams and restore the river,” River Falls Community Director Amy Peterson said.

The 22-mile Kinnickinnic River has two existing dams, the Junction Falls Dam and the Powell Falls Dam.

“It is a Class 1 trout stream, so part of the elements that we’re able to justify the benefit under the CAP 206 program is that direct benefit to the trout population,” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Project Manager Kevin Bigalke said. “That’s one of the main premises for moving forward with the project.”

The Junction Falls Dam is licensed through 2040, generating 1,220 MWH of hydropower annually. The dam connects to Lake George which has shallow depths below five feet and increases in water temperature lead to lower dissolved oxygen which can be fatal to trout in the summertime.

The Powell Falls Dam was damaged during a 2020 flood and Lake Louise was drained to determine the next steps. Ultimately, the city determined the dam needed to be fixed in order to be used again. The gate remained open and the city surrendered licensing, leaving Lake Louise as a drain basin.

Plans were narrowed to two alternatives. The first was for removal of both dams and restoration of Lake George, Lake Louise and Spring Ponds. The other alternative does not include the Lake Louise restoration and Powell Falls dam removal but includes the other items.

Objectives for the project are primarily based in restoration of habitat including the waterfalls, streams, wetlands, forests and marshes. They decided on a "Tentatively Selected Plan” for the larger of the alternatives, bringing an expected cost of $24.1 million which is cost shared with the federal government.

The Continuing Authorities Program 206 has the possibility to provide 65% of costs for the design and dam removals up to $15 million. The program funds aquatic ecosystem restoration projects, and funded projects must prove to be both backed by the public and benefit the environment.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are undergoing a study with two primary objectives which are as follows:

• Restore natural hydrothermal/hydrogeomorphic dynamics to support native cold-water species prior to impoundment.
• Increase riffle and pool geomorphic sequence to increase the use and availability of cold-water habitat species.

If and when it is completed, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expects 30 acres of riparian forest habitat to be provided along with three acres of emergent wetland. Public comments about the proposal can be made by emailing CEMVP_Planning@usace.army.mil.

National Park Service Community Planner Barett Steenrod then presented on recreation planning and human interaction with the land.

“You’re wondering, ‘Why is the park service here,’” Steenrod said. “The National Park Service, as you know, manages places like Yosemite and the Grand Canyon, but it also has programs. Our team is here to, with the invitation of the City of River Falls, to help move your outdoor recreation planning forward in a way that is world class locally.”

The city reached out to the National Park Service, and the two groups saw the potential for mutual benefit. Three staff members from the service will be assisting on the project full-time, which Steenrod said is fairly rare.

“To be clear, the Kinni Corridor Plan is an amazing plan, but it is a high-level concept document,” Steenrod said. “Since its publication, there have been changes to this landscape that necessitate modifications of some elements within that plan.”

Steenrod said that is to be expected with a high-level concept plan, but they need to remain focused on finding what the changes need to be and what the options are. He mentioned possible changes including moving the city compost yard and moving bike trails into the city core rather than on the outskirts. They will then determine concept designs for recreation opportunities.

“Park Service is not prescribing anything for your community,” Steenrod said. “We’re trying to cast vision as best we can, as responsibly as we can, in a way that is, frankly, demanding of the world-class level that you have in this community and give you a sense of what’s possible.”