UPPCO sets meeting Monday to mull AuTrain Dam options

AuTRAIN - Upper Peninsula Power Company officials have scheduled an informational meeting to present options for its AuTrain Dam at Forest Lake.

Company officials were recently informed their conceptual plans for complying with probable maximum flood requirements were not approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The meeting will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the AuTrain Township Hall. At the meeting, UPPCO representatives will explain the issues facing the company in continuing to operate the dam, discuss possible alternatives, answer questions and take public comments.

"We're still gathering information, so no decisions have been made," said Keith Moyle, UPPCO's vice president and general manager. "Asking for public input is part of our decision-making process."

Among the options the company is considering, announced earlier by officials, include transferring ownership, decommissioning the powerhouse and draining the reservoir back to its original lake and river bed. A decision is expected early next year.

Moyle said previously the cost estimates to bring the dam into compliance with federal spillway capacity requirements could outstrip the energy produced by the relatively small hydroelectric facility.

"The dam modifications could cost more than the value of the energy the plant will produce over the remaining term of the license," Moyle said. "We certainly can't invest in the dam if it won't pay off in the long run. That would impose an unfair burden on our customers."

Cost estimates for current conceptual designs for the dam range from $8 million to $12 million, Moyle said.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources officials remain interested in acquiring a wildlife refuge on the south end of AuTrain Basin with money from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund.

UPPCO supports that purchase and wants to see the refuge acquired for the public through the state, UPPCO officials said previously.

Officials with FERC are currently reviewing a Shoreline Management Plan for the flowage and will continue with that process, with a decision expected on the plan this fall.

The plan was developed and revised using information gathered from the public, governmental agencies and other stakeholders. FERC could approve the plans as submitted or modify the plans according to existing information and additional information it will collect.

"We started the shoreline management plan process more than two years ago," Moyle said. "It is still possible the reservoir will remain as it is, so we need to see the shoreline management plan process through to completion."