Evaluation of Hydro Projects

The 700-kilowatt Shawano Hydroelectric Project is one of two hydropower stations located on the Wolf River in northeastern Wisconsin's Shawano and Menominee Counties. The projects backwater extends upstream approximately four miles to the Menominee Indian Reservation and the Village of Keshena. The Bureau of Indian Affairs retained the Berger Group to help ensure the protection of the Menominee Indian Reservation Trust resources, including major concern for the impact on sturgeon population. When dams initially were built on the Wolf River the sturgeon upstream migration was blocked. The Team assessed the impact of the blockage and evaluated a number of mitigation measures, including the construction of upstream fish passage facilities. Other concerns addressed included variation in reservoir pool levels, impacts on archaeological sites, increased upstream flooding, the loss of fish from turbine enchainment, loss of mussel species in the reservoir area and fluctuations in tail water discharge from debris in the sluice. The Team also investigated and evaluated the effect of the project on the endangered Karner Blue butterfly, the value of the project to Wisconsin Power &: Light, an evaluation of Shawano in relation to other power sources and the relative costs of potential mitigation measures. Following detailed analysis, the Berger Team issued a report presenting the history and prior environmental impacts of the Shawano Hydroelectric Project and the need to protect Menominee Indian Reservation lands and resources. The report provided the Bureau with the necessary background information to calculate die appropriate fees for the use of this land as well as measures to mitigate any adverse impacts.