Lac qui Parle Dam repairs continue

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is preparing for the next phase of concrete repairs at the Lac qui Parle Dam, located near Watson, Minnesota. 

The Corps completed another round of repairs to the dam this week and is increasing the outflows from the dam to 2,000 cubic feet per second, or cfs, today.  

The next phase of repairs is expected to begin early next week and will include additional concrete and grouting repairs. The work will require the Corps to make temporary changes to the outflows while additional work is completed at the structure. Changes to the outflows are expected to be within the normal operating levels for this time of year and should be completed within the next two weeks. The final repairs are expected to be completed no later than the end of February, but are weather dependent.  

Normal winter range for outflow is around 210 cfs and the elevation is usually between 933.8 feet and 934.2 feet. The current lake elevation is 934.37 feet today as of noon, and falling due to the increase in outflows. For the current lake elevation, please visit: http://www.mvp-wc.usace.army.mil/reports/LacQuiParle_Dam.Report.html 

The work is necessary at this time to ensure the lake has the maximum storage capacity available for the spring runoff. Due to the continued changes to outflows, the Corps cautions everyone to be vigilant if they intend to go on the ice. Ice conditions can change rapidly and no ice is 100 percent safe. 

The nearly 600 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, employees working at more than 40 sites in five upper-Midwest states serve the American public in the areas of environmental enhancement, navigation, flood damage reduction, water and wetlands regulation, recreation sites and disaster response. Through the St. Paul District Fiscal Year 2016 $78 million budget, nearly 1,250 non-Corps jobs were added to the regional economy as well as $120 million to the national economy. For more information, see www.mvp.usace.army.mil.

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