Did You Know...

...that the Wisconsin River, called the "hardest working river in the land" in an article published in Electrical World in 1948, continues to be a hard worker through a unique partnership? In 1907, paper mill companies and electric utilities pooled their capital to create the Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company (WVIC) for the purpose of regulating a uniform flow in the river. WVIC took over what logging companies left. It rebuilt dams on and coordinated the operation of 16 source-water lakes into a comprehensive headwaters reservoir system for water conservation, flood control, low flow augmentation, increased power generation and recreation. Between 1911 and 1937, five reservoirs were built to expand the capacity of the system four fold.

WVIC is the only private conservation-regulation corporation of its kind. WVIC coordinates the operation of the entire river system for its owners - six paper mills and four electric utilities.

In addition to producing one billion kwh of electricity annually, the Wisconsin River contains significant aesthetic attractions and contributes vast recreation opportunities. WVIC and its member companies also contribute to the enhancement and restoration of reservoir and river-related wildlife habitat through cooperative programs with federal, state and local resource agencies.

Since its founding nearly a century ago, WVIC has maintained a broad vision of the resource with a long term view. The company has always sought balance among the benefits realized.

Thanks to Phil Valitchka, Public Relations Director, WVIC, for contributing this Benefits of Dams. For more information, visit www.wvic.com.

(reprinted from the USSD Newsletter, November 2000, page 3)