16 Apr 2020

Sandy Lake Dam Rehabilitation Project, Aitkin County, Minnesota

Over its history, Sandy Lake Dam has undergone a series of modifications, repairs and periodic inspections. From 2011 to 2016, a series of above and below water inspections identified several features that had deteriorated to a point that repair or replacement were necessary to maintain the long-term stability of the structure. Sandy Lake Dam is located on the Sandy River in Aitkin County, Minnesota, 1.25 miles upstream of the junction between the Sandy River and Mississippi River.

1 Oct 2018

Big Sandy Lake Dam Rehabilitation Project

Big Sandy Lake Dam is a significant hazard dam located on the Sandy River in Aitkin County, Minnesota, 1.25 miles upstream of the junction between the Sandy River and Mississippi River. The dam’s original purpose was to provide supplemental flow to the Mississippi River during periods of low river stages for navigation. Construction of the locks and dams downstream of Minneapolis in the 1930s reduced the need for upstream storage for navigation, and since then Sandy Lake Dam’s purpose has shifted to flood control, recreation, fish and wildlife conservation, and water supply.