St. Paul District News Releases

Corps of Engineers urges caution downstream of White Rock Dam and Reservation Dam

Press Operations — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 20:35:24 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is releasing a small amount of water at White Rock and Reservation dams, near Lake Traverse, in Wheaton, Minnesota, to help maintain reservoir water levels.

Corps of Engineers announces elevation/flow changes at Lac qui Parle Dam

Press Operations — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 13:44:02 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, announced additional water level changes, today, Aug. 20, at its Lac qui Parle Lake Dam, near Watson, Minnesota, due to ongoing rain within the basin.

Corps of Engineers announces pool draw down at Orwell Dam

Press Operations — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 13:13:14 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, will draw down the pool at Orwell Dam, near Fergus Falls, Minnesota, mid-August to facilitate repairs and inspection mid-September.

Corps of Engineers announces County Road 33 closure over the Lac qui Parle emergency spillway

Press Operations — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 19:00:51 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, announced today that County Road 33 over the emergency spillway of the Lac qui Parle Dam will be closed near Watson, Minnesota, until further notice. The Corps of Engineers is coordinating the road closure with Lac qui Parle and Chippewa counties.

Corps of Engineers Mississippi Headwaters reservoirs update

Press Operations — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 18:47:00 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, Mississippi River Headwaters reservoirs are at or below summer operating band and are ready for any potential spring precipitation.

Corps of Engineers begins annual drawdown of North Dakota reservoirs

Press Operations — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 15:59:02 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, will begin the fall drawdown at Homme Lake, near Park River, North Dakota, Oct. 31.

Corps of Engineers will conduct snow surveys in preparation for the spring melt

Press Operations — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 14:25:50 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Survey teams with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, will begin collecting snow surveys throughout the region Feb. 20 - 28.

Corps of Engineers opens Upper St. Anthony Falls gate to reduce flood risk

Press Operations — Thu, 19 May 2022 19:47:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is opening the gate at the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam, in Minneapolis, today due to high flows on the Mississippi River.

Corps of Engineers to increase Lake Ashtabula water releases

Press Operations — Fri, 13 May 2022 21:11:34 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, plans to increase water releases over the weekend from Baldhill Dam, near Valley City, North Dakota, this week to maintain storage capacity within Lake Ashtabula.

Corps of Engineers releasing flows on White Rock Dam, Lake Traverse

Press Operations — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 18:41:29 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, increased outflow above approximately 1,100 cubic feet per second (cfs) from White Rock Dam at Mud Lake near Wheaton, Minnesota, April 21.

Corps of Engineers closely monitoring conditions in the Sheyenne River Basin

Press Operations — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 17:38:56 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is closely monitoring conditions in the Sheyenne River Basin and at Baldhill Dam, located near Valley City, North Dakota, in the wake of the recent winter storm, rain events and forecasted rain.

Corps of Engineers to lower Lake Ashtabula this week

Press Operations — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 21:25:49 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is increasing outflow this week from Baldhill Dam located near Valley City, North Dakota, to lower Lake Ashtabula in the wake of a recent winter storm.

Corps begins spring drawdowns in the Red River of the North basin

Press Operations — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 20:11:29 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is lowering its reservoirs within the Red River of the North basin based on recent snow measurements to prepare for potential spring snowmelt. Above average snowpack has increased the flood risk for this spring.

Corps resumes Lake Traverse releases

Press Operations — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 16:53:49 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, will increase releases at Reservation Dam at Lake Traverse, near Wheaton, Minnesota, beginning Feb. 16, and at White Rock Dam at Mud Lake, near Wheaton, Minnesota, beginning Feb. 17.

Corps of Engineers increasing outflow from Baldhill Dam

Press Operations — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 18:47:15 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is increasing outflow from Baldhill Dam located near Valley City, North Dakota, to lower Lake Ashtabula before spring runoff.

Corps continues winter drawdown at its Headwaters reservoirs

Press Operations — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 20:22:32 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, continues to lower water elevations within its six Mississippi River Headwaters reservoirs in anticipation of winter conditions.

Corps of Engineers to begin annual drawdown of Ashtabula and Homme lakes

Press Operations — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 13:50:43 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. –The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, plans to drawdown or lower levels of two North Dakota reservoirs, Lake Ashtabula behind Baldhill Dam, near Valley City, and Homme Lake behind Homme Reservoir, near Park River, starting in November.

Corps resumes Lake Traverse releases

Press Operations — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 19:54:58 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, will resume releases at Reservation Dam at Lake Traverse, near Wheaton, Minnesota, beginning today.

Corps of Engineers delays Lake Ashtabula drawdown

Press Operations — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 20:52:59 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is delaying the annual drawdown of Lake Ashtabula, behind Baldhill Dam, near Valley City, North Dakota, to further assess drought conditions.

Corps continues to monitor its Red River of the North reservoirs

Press Operations — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 19:03:01 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is closely monitoring water levels at its Red River of the North reservoirs. Below average precipitation and drought conditions continue to impact reservoir levels and discharges. All locations are releasing the minimum flow or near the minimum flow.