ELKHART, Ind. -- Water levels of the St. Joseph River, upstream of Indiana Michigan Power's Elkhart Hydroelectric Plant, will be raised to spring and summer operating levels starting March 17.

The raising of water levels in spring and lowering of water levels in fall is an annual event for I&M.

"The process will start at the generating facility located on Johnson Street near downtown Elkhart," I&M officials said. "The reservoir level at the hydroelectric plant will be raised from 739.5 feet above sea level to 741.5 feet to its spring and summer level operating."

During the process, the reservoir will be slowly raised roughly six inches a 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.”

Officials say the Elkhart Hydroelectric Facility has been in operation since 1913 and has a capacity of 3.44 megawatts, which is the equivalent of powering 3,500 homes annually.

The facility is one of six 'run-of-river' hydroelectric plants on the St. Joseph River owned and operated by I&M, including four in Michigan (Berrien Springs, Buchanan, Constantine, and Mottville) and two in Indiana (Elkhart and Twin Branch).

“Run-of-river” refers to the process where all water goes through the power-generation equipment inside the hydroelectric facility and is then 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," officials said.