Flambeau River Hydro System

Xcel Energy operates 19 hydroelectric plants in Wisconsin, with a total generating capacity of about 260 megawatts (MW). Three of those plants are on the Flambeau River, a 155-mile tributary that has its origins from the lakes of northeastern Wisconsin. The Flambeau meanders southwesterly, meeting up with the Chippewa River, where Xcel Energy operates six more hydro plants.

Hydro Description: Hydroelectric generation begins with a dam that holds back a river and diverts flow through a powerhouse. Falling water that flows through propeller-like turbines causes them to rotate. The rotation of these turbines spins generators to produce electricity. The amount of electricity generated from each unit is determined largely by volume of water flow and "head," or the height from the water surface at the dam reservoir to the water surface downstream.

Hydro 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

Plant Descriptions

Big Falls Hydro (7.4 MW)
Xcel Energy's first hydro plant downstream from the Turtle-Flambeau flowage is Big Falls. A 369-acre impoundment created by the Big Falls dam provides excellent recreational opportunities. Included with the Big Falls facilities is a park and boat landing.

Ladysmith (2.8 MW)
Located 15 miles downstream from Big Falls, the site of Ladysmith Hydro was originally a pulp mill, which used the waters of the Flambeau to grind wood for an area paper mill. The powerhouse was added in 1941 to supply electricity and a third generator was added to the facility in 1982. The hydro dam creates 236-acre Ladysmith flowage in the city, which is bounded by a community park and swimming beach.

Thornapple Hydro (1.6 MW)
Located about 10 miles downstream from Ladysmith, Thornapple is a "run-of-the-river" hydro, which means that all gates operate in accordance with the water level. As the pond elevation rises, the gates open by means of automated devices. The plant has two generating units and 23 spillway gates. The original dam was built in 1909, and has washed out three times. In the early 1980s, the system was upgraded, which added about a foot to the head at Thornapple.

Contact Information:

• Plant Information and Tour Requests — 1-800-895-4999
• Media Inquiries — 715-839-2565