I&M will begin the annual process of raising the water level upstream of the Elkhart Hydroelectric Plant on the St. Joseph River to its spring and summer operating level.
The Elkhart Hydroelectric Facility is located on Johnson Street near downtown Elkhart.
The process will start Monday, March 17 at the generating facility located on Johnson Street near downtown Elkhart. The reservoir will slowly be raised approximately six inches per day over a four-day period. The reservoir was lowered two feet in December 2024 to reduce ice buildup and flooding upstream.
“Indiana Michigan Power encourages those who live along the St. Joseph River, especially residents within eight miles upstream of the Elkhart facility, to take note of the changing water level starting March 17,” said Richard Walag, I&M’s Hydroelectric Maintenance supervisor. “Now is the time to finish work and cleanup activities along the riverbank.”
The drawdown at the Elkhart Hydroelectric Plant is in accordance with the operating license issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
The Elkhart Hydroelectric Facility has been in operation since 1913 and has a capacity of 3.44 megawatts -- the equivalent of powering 3,500 homes annually. The facility is one of six run-of-river hydroelectric plants on the St. Joseph River I&M owns and operates. “Run-of-river” means all water goes through the generation equipment inside the hydroelectric facility and the water is returned to the river.
Combined, I&M’s six hydroelectric facilities generate more than 22 megawatts of electricity – enough to power 15,000 homes a year.