A group of Mississippi River stakeholders couldn’t agree more with Mark Twain’s conclusions.
USA fleet member Xcel Energy hosted 35 public and private power generators, federal-state-regional regulatory officials, American Indian community and environmental entities at the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant Tuesday, March 24, as part of the Mississippi River System-wide Low-Flow Management Plan (above St. Paul) efforts to improve communications among all those relying on the river.
“The purpose of the meeting was to review the new low river flow trigger points established by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) based on existing river flows and review the drought forecast for this summer to get an idea of what we will be dealing with,” said Patrick Flowers, Xcel Energy Manager of Environmental Services and Media Communications.
Nathan French, Monticello Operations Work Control Center, coordinated logistics for the meeting, including a tour of the Monticello Control Room Simulator and how the station monitors river flow during floods and drought. He said the group discussed requirements of logging events having an impact on river flow and the need to coordinate with downstream entities.
“Xcel Energy and Monticello provided input into the Mississippi River Low Flow Plan,” French said. “The intent is to get all parties to the river to agree on a plan and formally sign it this spring.”
The wide range of attendees joining Xcel Energy represented a variety of communities, agencies and companies. Among them: Brainerd Public Utilities, Brooklyn Center Public Works, Brooklyn Park Utilities, Crown Hydro, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Hennepin County Dispatch, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Met Council, Mille Lac Band of Chippewa, Minneapolis Water Works, State Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Minnesota DNR, Minnesota Power, Rapids Energy Center, Mississippi Headwaters Board, St. Cloud Hydro, Three Rivers Park District, Twin Cities Hydro, National Weather Service, U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers, among others.
Senior Monticello Simulator Instructor Joe Yarbrough demonstrates how Monticello monitors river flow during flood and drought conditions.