Floodplain Management Services: Murray County Resiliency and Emergency Planning & Lake Shetek Model Update and Calibration, Minnesota

Lake Shetek Dam, Murray County, Minnesota.

Purpose

The Lake Shetek Dam has experienced backflow into the lake as a result of high water levels at the confluence of Beaver Creek and the Des Moines River. This project will provide insight into the cause of the backflow and help the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Murray County, and the National Weather Service create solutions to the problem.

Location

Lake Shetek Dam is located in Murray County, Minnesota. The backflow occurs just downstream of the dam, specifically at the confluence of Beaver Creek and the Des Moines River.

Description

The final product of this work will be a report documenting the model analysis of flood risk management scenarios identified in a flood resiliency workshop. This effort will allow Murray County to consider scenarios to directly protect the life safety and flooding concerns described in the County Hazard Mitigation Plan. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will utilize the calibrated models to evaluate the downstream hydraulic control that caused the severe flooding in 2018. Following project completion, the final report will inform the local sponsor of flood risk opportunities.

Status

The project is planned to be awarded in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025 and completed in the spring of 2027.

Authority

This project is authorized under the Floodplain Management Services program authorized by Section 206 of the Flood Control Act of 1960, as amended (33 U.S. Code § 709a).

Funding

Fiscal year 2025                                              $20,000
Fiscal year 2026                                            $248,000

Project total                                                   $268,000