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Hydropower Generating Equipment at the Coon Rapids Dam
A tree leans over the Mississippi River riverbank near the Coon Rapids Dam.
NPS / Gordon Dietzman
In 2024, Natel Energy, the licensee, requested NPS HAP technical assistance for their proposed project of adding hydropower generating equipment at the Coon Rapids dam, located in the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA), just north of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This proposed hydropower project would generate 6.9 MW – enough to power approximately 5,800 homes. The dam is a central recreation feature of the area and surrounded by MNRRA, Coon Rapids Regional Park, and Mississippi Gateway Regional Park. The facilities include a publicly accessible walkway across the dam, connecting the East and West sides of the Mississippi River and offering visitors a unique experience directly over the water. Fishing and paddling are popular recreational attractions at the site. The dam also plays a critical role in preventing the upstream migration of invasive carp. To facilitate an efficient licensing process, the NPS HAP collaborated with MNRRA and Natel Energy. The NPS HAP provided technical assistance on NPS resources and study methodologies to help ensure their license application was complete and included the necessary information for streamlined processing.
