Project would remove both Kinni dams

RIVER FALLS – Big changes could be in store for dam removal on the Kinnickinnic River in River Falls. While it had been expected the lower of the two dams owned by the city’s electric utilities would come out this winter, complete removal of both dams could be accomplished if the city decides to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE).

At its Nov. 9 meeting, the River Falls City Council will consider a resolution to authorize COE to do a feasibility study to examine many aspects of removing two dams and ecologically restoring the 1.5-mile river corridor beneath the dams and their 15-acre impoundments. The city had approved eventually removing the two dams in a 2019 resolution, but the timeline could have been as long as 27 years before the project was completed. If COE is involved, it could be completed in seven to 10 years.

The city council meets at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers in River Falls City Hall, 222 Lewis St. Public comments are accepted at the start of the meeting, but participants need to get on the speakers list before it begins. Zoom access is also available. Go to rfcity. org/agenda for more information.

COE is required by law to do a feasibility study and examine many possible impacts of the project. If the city decides to go forward, COE can bring $10 million to the final restoration project costs which would need to be matched in a 65/35 split by the city. The feasibility study could cost up to $750,000 and the city would be responsible for half that cost.

Kinni Corridor Collaborative (KinniCC), a public nonprofit, river community development association formed in 2019 by community members, has been working to raise money for the Kinni restoration projects and river conditions monitoring. In the last year it has raised $300,000 in cash and in-kind contributions. The city has asked KinniCC to fund half of the city’s half of the study costs, and KinniCC has agreed to fund up to $175,000 of the feasibility study costs, if the city council approves the COE involvement.

“This can be a big step forward for the city and the river,” said KinniCC CEO/President Judie Foster Babcock. “We encourage council members to support working with the COE, and we are willing to do our part to help with the city’s share of the study costs. KinniCC will continue to share the story of the project with our residents and partners to move toward a dam-free Kinnickinnic. We hope the COE will move quick as the community already has the 2018 Kinni Restoration Feasibility study and concepts developed by Inter-Fluve for Friends of the Kinni.”

Through KinniCC and partners advocacy in 2021-2022, a WDNR Municipal Dam Grant of $1 million has already been awarded to the city. The WDNR confirmed the funds can be used toward the city’s share of the full restoration project for the lower Kinni in the future. A second WDNR grant could be obtained by the city when it decides to take steps to relinquish the federal electrical generating license for the upper dam. Those grants would cover a significant portion of the city’s share of the total dam removal and river restoration costs.

KinniCC is accepting donations to the feasibility study, river monitoring and full restoration at www.kinniCC.org to help the city ouset its share of this restoration project.

What is KinniCC?

The Kinni Corridor Collaborative (KinniCC) is a public non-profit, the only river community development association in River Falls formed to support and implement the Kinni Corridor Plan adopted by the River Falls City Council in January 2019. We work in partnership with local, regional, state and national stakeholders to define and fund projects in River Falls that provide public benefit and protect the Kinni as a cold-water resource and Class 1 trout stream. We are members of River Falls Chamber of Commerce, the River Management Society and Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council.

The group’s vision is an “enhanced river corridor in the heart of the community with a free-flowing, cold-water stream and habitat that everyone can access and enjoy.” The vision also includes cultivating “a network of partners, private and public landowners, and passionate, engaged citizens acting to create sustainable development, recreation and public spaces that attract economic, public and private investment.”

The collaborative encourages community members to engage in supporting and implementing the Kinni Corridor Plan by following us on Facebook page (www. facebook.com/kinniCC). joining a committee; and donating to the projects More information can be found on the KinniCC website.

Background

On Jan. 22, 2019, the River Falls City Council adopted the Kinnickinnic River Corridor Plan. The plan reflects a four-year, award-winning, community engagement and planning euort to lay out a vision for the transformation and redevelopment of several miles of the Kinnickinnic River in conjunction with the removal of the Powell Falls hydro- electric dam in 2022-2023 and Junction Falls hydro-electric dam by 2035-2040. This restoration will return the Kinni to free-flowing along its entire length in St. Croix and Pierce counties.

Submitted by Kinni Corridor Collaborative