FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UPPCO Urges Caution Around Hydroelectric Reservoirs- Water Levels Being Lowered

January 2, 2024  |  Press Releases

Marquette – As winter settles in across the region, Upper Peninsula Power Company (UPPCO) will begin lowering water levels at its hydroelectric reservoirs to prepare for melting snow and precipitation during the spring of 2024. UPPCO’s hydroelectric project licenses are issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and require these water level changes.

The Silver Lake, Hoist, Victoria Dam, Bond Falls and Lake Gogebic reservoirs will be lowered during the month of January. The Prickett Dam reservoir levels will be lowered starting in February. These changing reservoir levels may produce unsafe or unstable ice conditions.

“Water level changes can lead to unsafe ice conditions due to the formation of an air gap beneath the ice,” according to Brett French, UPPCO Vice President of Business Development and Communications. “Increased water flowing through the rivers may also cause the ice to deteriorate, creating unsafe ice conditions to develop. We are asking everyone to exercise caution around the hydroelectric reservoirs and nearby rivers, lakes and streams during the lowering periods.”

UPPCO’s hydroelectric reservoirs are expected to begin returning to their normal water levels during the month of April, depending on the rate of snow melt and the onset of spring.

CONTACT:
Brett French
OFFICE:
(906) 232-1422
CELL:
(906) 485-5822
EMAIL:
bfrench@uppco.com

UPPCO is the Upper Peninsula’s largest electric utility serving approximately 52,000  customers across 4,460 square miles. UPPCO and its predecessors have excelled at  providing dependable service and safe, reliable energy to its valued customers for more than 135 years.