Congratulations to Dairyland Environmental Biologist Ben Campbell and Director, Environmental & Compliance Brad Foss for receiving the 2023 Electric Power Research Institute’s (EPRI) Technology Transfer Award for Novel Application of Traveling Screens for Fish Protection, resulting from the JPM Traveling Water Screen Optimization Study.

The two-year optimization study (2020-2022) assessed the species composition, abundance and survival of fish impinged on the traveling water screens (TWS) at Dairyland's John P. Madgett (JPM) power plant in Alma. 

Dairyland is permitted by regulatory agencies, such as the Wisconsin DNR and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to withdraw water from the Mississippi River for use in JPM’s “once-through” cooling water system. The water is drawn in through a cooling water intake structure (screen house), routed through the cooling water condenser and discharged back to the river.

In 2016, Dairyland installed a fish-friendly Hydrolox TWS at JPM. The TWS is designed to collect fish that could be drawn into the cooling water system and return them back to the Mississippi River via a fish return system.

The study helped determine whether operational measures combined with the TWS produce an optimized system for fish survival. In total, 5,262 fish were collected during the study with a survival rate of 97%. Crew members recorded 47 different species with yellow perch, mud darter and flathead catfish being the most abundant species collected.

Safety First: A safety tailgate was conducted prior to every fish sampling event, identifying potential hazards and ensuring the proper PPE was used.

“We are grateful to the team members involved across several departments, especially JPM Operations and Maintenance staff, who collaborated to make this a safe, effective and informative study,” said Foss.