Xcel Energy will begin a major dredging and foundation reinforcement project at the Cedar Falls Dam starting today, Sept. 22 and continuing through November. This work is a critical step in preparing the dam for future construction, including the installation of a coffer dam.
As part of the project, crews will deploy 60-foot-by-60-foot barges anchored to the riverbed at the top of the dam to remove sediment that has built up over the past century. The material will be pumped to shore, dewatered and hauled to a disposal site.
Residents should expect significantly increased truck traffic, with five to six dump trucks operating daily, six days a week, to transport sediment from the site. This activity will impact several local roads, including:
- County Road BB
- 708th Avenue
- 540th Street
Temporary road closures or delays may occur during work hours, and signage will be posted to alert drivers to construction zone areas. Drivers are encouraged to use caution and plan alternate routes when possible.
Following the dredging phase, divers will begin pumping concrete to reinforce the front side of the dam, strengthening it to safely receive the coffer dam structure.
The Cedar Falls Hydro is one of 19 hydroelectric facilities Xcel Energy operates in Wisconsin and this work is part of a multi-year project to strengthen and modernize the spillway gates at the hydro plant.
