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United States. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

FERC Issues Scoping Notice for Weyauwega Hydroelectric Project

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has issued a scoping notice for the Weyauwega Hydroelectric Project, a proposal to relicense a hydroelectric dam on the Waupaca River in Wisconsin. The notice, which was filed on October 14, 2025, marks the beginning of the scoping process, which will gather input from the public and interested agencies on the project's potential environmental effects.

The Weyauwega Hydroelectric Project, which has been in operation since 1929, consists of a dam with three Tainter gates and a powerhouse that generates 210 kilowatts of electricity. The dam creates an impoundment with a surface area of 235 acres at a normal surface elevation of 770.2 feet NGVD 29. Wiscons8, LLC, the applicant, proposes to continue operating the project in a run-of-river mode and maintaining the impoundment elevation at 770.2 feet NGVD 29.

Key Takeaways:

  • The FERC has issued a scoping notice for the Weyauwega Hydroelectric Project, marking the beginning of the scoping process.
  • The project, which has been in operation since 1929, consists of a dam with three Tainter gates and a powerhouse that generates 210 kilowatts of electricity.
  • The dam creates an impoundment with a surface area of 235 acres at a normal surface elevation of 770.2 feet NGVD 29.
  • Wiscons8, LLC, the applicant, proposes to continue operating the project in a run-of-river mode and maintaining the impoundment elevation at 770.2 feet NGVD 29.
  • The scoping process will gather input from the public and interested agencies on the project's potential environmental effects, including impacts on aquatic resources, terrestrial resources, threatened and endangered species, recreation and land use resources, cultural resources, and developmental resources.
  • The FERC will prepare an environmental document that will discuss the potential environmental effects of relicensing the project.
  • The public has until November 13, 2025, to submit written comments on the scope of issues to be addressed in the environmental document.

Statistics:

  • The Weyauwega Hydroelectric Project has been in operation since 1929.
  • The dam has three Tainter gates, and the powerhouse generates 210 kilowatts of electricity.
  • The impoundment created by the dam has a surface area of 235 acres at a normal surface elevation of 770.2 feet NGVD 29.
  • The project's intake structure has a trashrack with 2-inch clear bar spacing.
  • The tailrace empties into the Waupaca River.

Sources:

  • FERC Notice of Scoping Period (October 14, 2025)
  • Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. SS 791(a)-825(r)
  • Wiscons8, LLC, Application for Subsequent License (November 29, 2024)
  • FERC, "Environmental Review Process" (n.d.)

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