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River Falls resident urges against dam removal, cites Science Advances study and suggests fishing management
Summary
During public comment a River Falls resident cited a Science Advances study and urged the council to consider upgraded fishing guidelines rather than spending on dam removal at the Kinney site.
William Hanson, a River Falls resident, told the council on Oct. 14 that a study published Oct. 10, 2025, in Science Advances found fishing had a larger effect on studied fish populations than warming, and suggested the city consider changing fishing guidelines instead of removing the Kinney dam.
“I’m William Hanson,” he said during public comment, and cited the research: “Researchers found that fishing has a far greater impact than warming on study fish populations. Perhaps here in River Falls, rather than wasteful spending of tax and utility rate payer money for dam removal, we could consider upgraded fishing guidelines as the best and most economical long term fish population management tool for the Kinney.”
Hanson said the study covered more than 500 fish population groups across four decades in Minnesota and Wisconsin and included both warm- and cold-water species; he referenced a team that included state, federal and University of Wisconsin researchers. The comment was made during the public-comment segment; the council did not take action on the suggestion during the meeting.
No city staff presentation or council response addressing Hanson’s specific recommendation was recorded in the meeting transcript. The item was entered as public comment without subsequent discussion or directive recorded on Oct. 14.
