LAKE GEORGE, junction Falls Dam & HYDROpower
Here, in the heart of River Falls, Lake George provids a unique natural environment found nowhere else in the 22 miles of the Kinni. The lake habitat complements the Kinni’s riparian character. Lake George functions to protect the water quality of the lower Kinni. It provides a sediment basin for the settling of sand brought down by the upper Kinni and from the outflow of 25 city storm water drains. Junction Falls is designed to draw water from the bottom of the dam, which helps to cool summer storm water run-off and in turn, cool the lower Kinni.
Looking from Winter Street Bridge to the Kinnickinnic
After 100+ years of service, it is estimated that the Lake George basin has accumulated over 160,000 cubic yards of mostly sandy sediment. It is time to remove this sediment and return Lake George to its historic depth and water quality. The Army Corps of Engineers are considering working with River Falls to improve conditions as they are today. Please see our information under Army Corps of Engineers tab to follow developments.
Reclaim Lake George! Keep our hydropower and enjoy the biodiversity of plants, birds and water life in both the Kinni Corridor and Lake George.
Let Lake George continue to function as a low-cost, available resource providing storm water mitigation and a true lake environment here in the center of the city. With a deeper, cleaner lake, new rental activities like pedal boats, paddle boards or row boats could provide old time fun. Consider adding a pair of floating fountains and water surface aerator to help cool the lakes surface water and control algae growth. All are features for both residents and tourists to enjoy as they walk around the Lake George trail.
Water power from the Kinni provides the community with renewable, sustainable and clean energy. This power source, which last year provided over 1.3 million kWh of electricity to the community, is free. Free! As long as water runs downstream, the fuel, water, is free.
The dams and hydros produce electricity 24/7, rain or shine, every day of the year. Local sale of this electricity in 2022 resulted in a return of $144,000 in revenues to the River Falls Municipal Utilities. Money the utility rate payers did not have to pay.
The White Pathway along Lake George
Key Points
• Lake George provides a unique natural environment found nowhere else in the 22 miles of the Kinni.
• White Pathway and Lake George offer a peaceful, easily
accessible nature experience in the heart of River Falls.
• The Department of Energy documents 80,000 dams in the United States, fewer than 2,200 produce hydro power. And but a minutiae of those are community owned and operated. River Falls has owned and operated its hydroelectric dam for over 122 years.
• With its 14 step rolled concrete face, the award-winning
Junction Falls Dam is striking and unique in its structure
and the sight and sound of its resulting cascade.
• The bottom draw system used by Junction Falls dam actually cools summer storm water discharge. Source: “Kinnickinnic River at River Falls, WI thermal study” , October 2003. US Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District Mississippi Valley Division report, page 3 paragraph 3.
• The hydros provided 1.3 million kWh of renewable
electricity in 2022 with a revenue in excess of $144,000.
A profit will continue through 2047. Source: Kinni Corridor Project Session 5 Poster “Economics of Continued Hydro Operation.”
• Lake George currently serves as a settling basin which prevents sediment from directly entering the Kinni below the dams. Nonetheless, Junction Falls dam is fitted with a waste gate, which can be opened to release a measure amount of sediment to keep Lake George clean and to avoid the lower Kinni from becoming sediment starved.
• Improve Lake George! Focus efforts on reclaiming the lake
and removal of excess water plants and algae. Remove
accumulated sediment, add fountains and surface water aerators to improve the lake, allowing us to keep our hydropower.
• “Free The Kinni” means destruction of our unique hydropower production and Lake George. Removal places a high risk to the river. Estimated dam removal and related costs are $12 million
dollars. Source: Kinni Corridor Project Session 5 Poster “Potential Cost of Dam Removal.”
• In these unsettled times, it is nice to have a local renewable
power source independent of the grid. At an extremely low cost Save your wallets, conserve your tax dollars. Keep the Junction Falls Dam, Lake George and community owned and operated hydropower.
Today, the Junction Falls Dam by the Winter St. Bridge provides us a 33 ft. cascading waterfall. Stop by especially after an inch of rain, to enjoy the sights and sounds of this impressive falling water feature. For a minimal investment we could modify the look of the dam face. Adding a pair of floating fountains, as seen in Mill Pond Lake in New Richmond, would serve as visual interest points and help improve lake water quality through mixing and aeration. Lighting of the fountains and the dam cascade face at night could be an impressive, unique Lake George feature.
CONTACT US AT: info@FriendsofLakeGeorge.org
The chart, “Potential Cost of Dam Removal” presented as part of the July 20, 2017, Kinni Corridor Tech Talk, estimated the cost of dam removal and related, required corridor improvements to be $12 million dollars. That’s in 2017 dollars!! This number does not include those additional costs related to aesthetic and bluff stabilization, replacement of current local electric generation capacity, or the lost asset value of the existing dam and hydro infrastructure. Also, it does not include continuing maintenance costs of the three proposed small settling basins and related parkland or costs for yearly park rebuilds due to flooding.
Continued hydro operations projected through the next 30-year licensing period will result in a net profit of $1.9 million dollars. Decisions are being made on whether or not to remove Junction Falls Dam.
Talk with Mayor Dan, your city council representatives, and neighbors. Share your thoughts about spending $12 million dollars to “Free the Kinni” by destroying our renewable energy generation and Lake George.
Become part of the discussion. Consider supporting our local, renewable energy resources and the improvement of the lake portions of the Kinni.
Spread The Word
Tell your friends and family about these threatened places. There's no better way to make an impact than to become an active advocate yourself. Join us and make an impact!