Media Contact: Scott Reigstad (608) 458-3145
First phase of construction underway on project that will allow fish to pass through dam
MADISON, WI – September 23, 2010 – Wisconsin Power and Light Company (WPL), an Alliant Energy company, will install a fish passage at its Prairie du Sac Hydroelectric Facility that will allow sturgeon, paddlefish and other fish species to migrate between the Wisconsin River and Lake Wisconsin. The preliminary phase for the multi-year project kicked off last week with the start of a cement access road that will provide construction equipment a path to the fish passage building site.
“We expect the construction of the access road to take about three months and there will be limited access to the area – known to many as the ‘island below the lock structure’ – for fishing during construction,” said Scott Wilson, Alliant Energy Manager of Hydroelectric Generation. “We understand that our project will disrupt a popular fishing spot, but safety is our first priority and we ask that people avoid the construction site itself and use caution in the general area.”
The installation of the fish passage is required under WPL’s Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Operating License for the Prairie du Sac Hydroelectric Facility. WPL is working in conjunction with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the project parameters.
“WPL supports the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in their efforts to protect our rivers and the valuable fish populations,” added Wilson. “We’ve worked for many years as a partner on fish preservation projects near our two hydroelectric facilities on the Wisconsin River and we take seriously our role as environmental stewards when it comes to the river and surrounding areas.”
While WPL will oversee the fish passage construction, the WDNR will operate it on an ongoing basis. “We’re pleased that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have agreed to cooperate in operating the fish passage,” added Wilson. “They are certainly the fish conservation experts and we can rely on their knowledge to effectively utilize the passage and realize its benefits.”
WPL has been involved in an ongoing Fish Protection and Passage Initiative for several years at the Prairie du Sac Hydroelectric Facility that has included numerous fish and water quality research studies and other actions.
In 2009, the company completed the installation of new trash racks at the facility. The trash racks are located in front of the entrance to the turbines to prevent them from getting clogged with debris. The trash racks were also designed to prevent fish from going through the turbines. As part of its current licensing requirements, WPL also annually contributes toward the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ fish conservation efforts at the Prairie du Sac facility.
