MERRILL, Wis. (WSAU) — Wisconsin Public Service is reminding people to be safe out on rivers as the spring thaw approaches and dams become more dangerous than usual.
Wisconsin Public Service regional generation manager Brad Menning says what while the full spring thaw isn’t there yet, they are expecting flows to pick up sharply over the next month. “Over the next several weeks as the thaw continues and we get rain, there will be increased flows. We’re always trying to pass water through the turbines to generate electricity, and as we get more water than the generation can handle, we’ll begin to open gates and pass water through the dam.” Menning says the usual signs and warnings will be out earlier this year. “There’s signage letting people know where safe access points are and above the dam there’s buoys to make sure that if you’re in a boat that you’re not getting too close to the dam.”
Wisconsin Public Service spokesperson Kelly Zagrzebski says they’re just making sure people remember to be careful once the thaw gets underway. “And as the weather starts getting nice, people are itching to get out there and go fishing and do stuff in their boats. We want to keep it in the forefront and make sure that everyone can enjoy our facilities, the river, and we can have a good safe summer.”
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http://www.wisconsinpublicservice.com/environment/hydroelectric.aspx
