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Apple River Generating Station
Apple River Generating Station
This hydro plant was created at the turn of the 20th century
Overview
Location: Seven miles downstream from Riverdale and two miles before the Apple River’s confluence with the St. Croix River
Generating Capacity: 2.9 megawatts
Type of Operation: Diversion project
Plant History
Apple River Hydro was built at the turn of the 20th century to provide electricity for the St. Paul area. At the time the plant employed 10 full-time people who lived in houses constructed alongside the plant.
Much of the original equipment at Apple River Hydro remained in operation until 1988 when major renovation was started. The original generators, which were among the first alternating current machines manufactured, were removed at that time.
Interesting Features
The dam’s small flowage has 75-foot forested banks punctuated with sandstone cliffs, which create a spectacular view. The river upstream from the dam has a secluded wilderness flavor that is preserved by ordinances regulating shoreline development.
Environmental Highlights
As a source of electricity, hydropower is advantageous in that the fuel costs nothing. In addition, hydro facilities have low operating and maintenance costs, and their useful lifetime is well over 50 years.
From an environmental perspective, hydro is a clean, renewable fuel, and Xcel Energy manages its dam operations to protect the aquatic environment and improve recreational opportunities.
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