The North Tailwater area near the Red Rock Dam will be closed to the public beginning Aug. 4 to enable construction of hydroelectric facilities at the Dam. The closure will extend until construction of the project is completed in the spring of 2018.
The closure will include the North Tailwater Recreation Area of Lake Red Rock, and a section of the Volksweg Trail from Howell Station Campground to North Overlook Picnic Area in that vicinity.
Missouri River Energy Services (MRES), which is building the Red Rock Hydroelectric Project, recently received real estate documents from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and authorization from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which are the final approvals needed to enable construction work to begin at the site.
“We understand that these closures will be an inconvenience to some people,” said MRES Member and Public Relations Manager Bill Radio. “But they are necessary for our contractors to build the hydropower project.” Once built, the Red Rock Hydroelectric Project will be the second largest hydropower facility in Iowa and will be capable of producing enough electricity to supply about 18,000 homes.
MRES has taken several measures to enhance recreation in the Red Rock Dam area including construction of new picnic shelters, a playground, a fish-cleaning station with shelter, additional parking, the new Robert’s Creek Trailhead, and expansion of the Volksweg Bike Trail, along with the purchase of group grills and water fountains.
MRES supplies wholesale electricity and energy services to 61 member municipal electric utilities, including the City of Pella, in the states of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
For more information, contact MRES Director of Member and Public Relations Bill Radio, phone: 605-338-4042; e-mail: bill.radio@mrenergy.com.
Release no. 14-047