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St. Croix Falls Hydro Generating Station
St. Croix Falls Hydro Generating Station
The only existing hydro dam on the St. Croix River
Overview
Location: St. Croix Falls in Wisconsin
Generating capacity: 24.6 megawatts
Type of operation: Partial Peaking
Plant History
Completed in 1905, St. Croix Falls Hydro was built to provide electricity for the Twin Cities. Construction involved hundreds of laborers working day and night. For two years, blasting shook buildings and shattered windows in St. Croix Falls and in Taylors Falls, Minn., just across the river.
Except for maintenance work and standard repairs, the facility has not been changed since its construction.
Interesting Features
A feature that distinguishes the St. Croix Falls plant from other hydroelectric units is its "S" shaped spillway. The spillway was constructed as a curve to increase its crest area, since the river at that spot forms a gorge through which passes a large volume of water.
Environmental Highlights
In 2006, Xcel Energy entered into a "Memorandum of Understanding" (MOU) with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to stabilize the water flow of the lower St. Croix River.
This operational plan helps protect aquatic attributes of the river to foster recovery of endangered species. The MOU is a reasonable way to protect public interests and natural resources while maintaining energy production.
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