Consolidated Water Power Company's Biron Hydroelectric Project's Exotic Species Biennial Monitoring Report for 2024/2025

Strategic Insights -

The Consolidated Water Power Company (CWPCo) has submitted its biennial monitoring report for the Biron Hydroelectric Project to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The report provides an update on the monitoring and control of exotic species, including purple loosestrife, curly-leaf pondweed, zebra mussels, and Eurasian water milfoil, within the project's boundaries.

Key Takeaways:

  • The most actively monitored exotic species on the project is purple loosestrife, with 22 sites monitored in 2024/2025, showing a trend of increasing sites with loosestrife over the last three biennial monitoring periods, despite the concentration of plants remaining very low (1-10 plants at each site).
  • Sites with small concentrations of plants generally have low beetle activity, while as the number of plants increases, it appears to attract the beetles, which in turn assists in the control of purple loosestrife at that site.
  • The company has established purple loosestrife control methods, including removing flower tops for sites with smaller colonies and leaving rest for beetles to feed on for sites with larger colonies and observed beetle activity.
  • No zebra mussel observations were reported by CWPCo's crew during their normal work duties in 2024/2025.
  • Eurasian water milfoil was observed in Love Creek (Section 25, T23N, R7E) at dispersed levels in 2024/2025, but current levels do not demonstrate any significant negative effects towards overall fish or wildlife populations.
  • CWPCo continues to provide information about invasive species through the distribution of recreational brochures, which are free to the public.

Statistics:

  • 22 purple loosestrife sites monitored in 2024/2025;
  • 10-20 plants observed at each of the 22 monitored sites;
  • 15% to 30% of leaves with bee-bee holes from beetle feeding in medium beetle activity rating;
  • 22 sites with loosestrife showed a trend of increasing sites over the last three biennial monitoring periods;
  • 5-10 plants observed at sites with smaller colonies and 6-50 plants with observed beetle activity;
  • No zebra mussel observations in 2024/2025;
  • No chemical applications for 2010-2025;
  • 15 sites with milfoil levels not demonstrating any significant negative effects towards overall fish or wildlife populations.

Sources:

  • Consolidated Water Power Company, CONSOLIDATED WATER POWER COMPANY 610 High Street Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495, September 4, 2025, Electronic Filing Ms. Debbie-Anne Reese, Secretary Docket No. 2192-000 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street, N.E., Mail Code DHAC PJ-12.3 Washington, D.C. 20426 Biron Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 2192 - Article 405, Exotic Species Biennial Monitoring Report for 2024 / 2025.
  • Attachment 1 - Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Data;
  • Attachment 2 - Project Site Location Maps.