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Sometime in the next couple days or so— the St. Croix River flowage at the St. Croix Falls-Taylors Falls Dam will be at the desired elevation to allow Xcel Energy to proceed on dam repairs.  Wisconsin Xcel announced that the flowage has been undergoing a drawdown (begun July 10) that is expected to require about 11 days. Xcel is maintaining the river depth reduction at the rate of six inches per day, to hit the target elevation.  The drawdown target is 749.0 feet and the normal depth is usually kept at 754.5 to 755 feet.

Until July 31 boating  recreation above the dam is not recommended because boat barriers will not be in place.  

An Xcel Wisconsin spokesperson says flashboards at the dam were “damaged during a significant runoff event” this summer, and will be repaired/ replaced.

If the weather cooperates and flow conditions are as projected, the pond can be held at the target elevation for work to proceed.  Flowage of the dam then will be refilled at a rate of a foot and a half per day after repairs have been achieved.   

Xcel Energy owns and operates a total of 19 hydroelectric facilities in Wisconsin.  The St Croix Falls-Taylors Falls structure got a thorough 10-year inspection in November 2022 and a Minnesota dam safety engineer was also present.  

The public relations spokesperson said there were no significant safety concerns found.   The next of the Wisconsin-mandated every two-year-inspections is slated for 2024.

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