IMPORTANT PUBLIC MEETING:

Fishway at the Prairie du Sac Hydro

Constituents, please see the following information regarding a public meeting happening next week. If you have or will spend any time in Wisconsin's fisheries and waterways, it is really important for you to speak up at this meeting. Please see below for more information and do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be holding an open house at the Ruth Culver Library, 540 Water Street, in Prairie du Sac on Monday, July 15, 2013 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM to provide the public with an opportunity to get information, ask questions, express concerns and discuss issues regarding the scope of a study to examine alternatives for Wisconsin Power and Light’s (Alliant Energy’s) required installation of a fishway at the Prairie du Sac Hydro. A brief presentation will be given by the USFWS at 6:00 PM. A public comment period on the issue begins on July 1, 2013 and will continue through August 1, 2013. For more information, visit: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/greenbay/PDSfishway.html

 

Concerns about Asian Carp and invasive species

Alliant Energy is currently required to install a fishway at the Prairie du Sac Hydro by July 1, 2015. The decision to require the fishway was made years before the discovery of Asian Carp below the Hydro. The fishway’s original goal was to provide fish passage for a variety of native fish species. But, recent concerns about Asian Carp have led Alliant Energy and the USFWS to review these plans.

 

Asian Carp are causing major problems in the Mississippi River and its tributaries, like the Wisconsin River, where they have been causing serious damage to native fish populations because they out-compete other fish for habitat and food. They are also thought to lower water quality, which can kill off sensitive organisms like native freshwater mussels.

 

The Prairie du Sac Hydro currently functions as an absolute barrier preventing Asian Carp from the lower Wisconsin River from migrating into Lake Wisconsin.Asian Carp have been captured below the Hydro in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Installation of a fishway could create a new way for Asian Carp to get into the upper Wisconsin River.

 

Fishway could put river at risk

While Alliant Energy supports efforts to maintain populations of native fish species above our Hydro, we believe that there are significant risks presented by weakening the absolute barrier that the Hydro represents. These risks may outweigh the benefits. Given the growing problem with invasive species, we are concerned that a fishway could allow Asian Carp or other invasive species into Lake Wisconsin and the upper Wisconsin River. This could harm the environment, the native fish populations, and possibly the recreation industry in the area.

 

Further study pursued

After hearing concerns, the USFWS agreed to conduct a study to examine potential alternative approaches to maintaining native fish species above the Hydro while protecting them from invasive species. We believe that there are viable alternative approaches. Alliant Energy is supportive of studying the issue more in-depth and considering safer alternatives. As part of the study process, the USFWS is hosting an open house on July 15, 2013, at 5:00 pm. At this meeting, you can provide input on the fishway issue. If you cannot attend the open house, comments can also be submitted directly to the USFWS until August 1, 2013. For more information, visit http://www.fws.gov/midwest/greenbay/PDSfishway.html.