The Pickwick Mill, Inc., has received
a grant from the Clean Energy Resource Team of Southeast Minnesota, for
a project entitled:
"Feasibility Study: Microhydro-power at Trout
Creek Falls and Pickwick Mill, Pickwick, Minnesota".
The $5,000 will be used to determine the feasibility
and costs to install microhydro-power turbines near the Pickwick Mill in
Big Trout Creek to generate power. Funds from the sale of generated power
would be used to help support Mill restoration projects. SE-CERT
received over forty applications for this round of funding.
For more information on the Pickwick Hydro project
contact: William Richardson at 608-781-6231
For more information on SE-CERT see: www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org
Project Description
The Pickwick Mill has been the
center of the Pickwick community for 150 years. The mill is the oldest
industrial site in Minnesota. In the mill’s prime, 100 barrels of flour
a day were produced and sent to the eastern United States, Europe, and
South America. During the Civil War, Pickwick mill supplied Union Troops
and ran day and night to meet the demand. The mill was in operation until
1978 producing livestock feed. In 1980 a flood destroyed the dam and spillway
and severely damaged the mill. The owners considered razing the mill, but
in 1982 Pickwick Mill, Incorporated, was formed by local citizens and the
mill was saved. The non-profit organization has worked hard over the last
20 years to restore the mill and now conducts tours. The Milling
operation was built on a working pressure head of ~ 25’ provided by the
natural fall of Big Trout Creek in Pickwick.
Purpose:
1. To provide low cost,
efficient and sustainable power for the Pickwick Mill and surrounding power
consumers of the Trout Creek Valley and Pickwick, Minnesota.
2. To enhance ecotourism
opportunities for SE Minnesota by acting as a demonstration project for
alternate energy production.
3. Provide additional educational
opportunities for visitors to the Historic Pickwick Mill by highlighting
historic and modern hydropower generation.
Project Activities:
1. Hire energy consultants
and design professionals to determine feasibility of a microhydro-power
installation at the falls in Trout Creek and Pickwick Historic Mill site.
2. Create plans for turbine
installation.
3. Create plans to implement
power distribution systems.
4. Create plans for educational
materials and community forum to highlight the historic and modern hydropower
function and benefits of renewable energy in Pickwick Minnesota.
Bill
William B. Richardson, Ph.D.
Aquatic Ecologist
U.S. Geological Survey
Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
La Crosse, Wisconsin
608-781-6231
wrichardson@usgs.gov
http://www.umesc.usgs.gov
