Sandy Lake Dam, McGregor, Minnesota.
Purpose
The Mississippi River Headwaters Project consists of six headwaters dams in north-central Minnesota. Cross Lake, Gull Lake, Big Sandy Lake, Lake Winnibigoshish, Pokegama Lake and Leech Lake make up the system. The dams were constructed or reconstructed between 1884 and 1913 (original structures were timber construction and converted to concrete in the 1900s, except for the Gull Lake Dam, which was initially built in 1913 with concrete) to aid navigation on the Mississippi River between St. Paul, Minnesota, and Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Because the navigation mission of the headwaters dams declined with the creation of the Upper Mississippi River 9-Foot Navigation Channel and recreation grew in importance to the region’s economy, the mission shifted to flood risk management, recreation, and environmental stewardship.
Location
The project targets north-central Minnesota, with projects near the towns of Cross Lake, Brainerd, McGregor, Deer River, Grand Rapids and Federal Dam.
Description
The project includes six U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)-managed campgrounds and several day-use areas. The project’s multiple-use water resource management (flood risk management, recreation, and environmental stewardship) affects several communities, thousands of property owners, countless recreational users, resource agencies, industry, the general public, and Native American communities. Since their construction, the Headwaters Reservoirs have prevented $99 million in flood damages.
Status
Boundary surveying of fee lands will continue at Cross Lake, Gull Lake and Sandy Lake in 2026 in accordance with HQUSACE Operations and Regulatory Division (CECW-CO) Policy Guidance: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Boundary Management and Encroachment Resolution, dated May 10, 2019. Boundary re-surveys include real estate acquired by USACE in the late 1800s and early 1900s, which has not always been clearly delineated. Road realignment and closures were completed at Gull Lake in fall 2024, with asphalt milling needed on the final road section within USACE property. A Sustainable Rivers Program initiative is currently underway to study the impact of Headwaters Reservoir operations on wild rice (manoomin). A Preliminary Engineering Report is underway for Leech Lake Dam. Funding has been received for developing plans and specifications to rehabilitate the Gull, Pokegama and Leech Lake dams.
The Headwaters Reservoirs will be fully open for visitor access in 2026. Staff are partnering with the Student Conservation Association to recruit five volunteers for the 2026 recreation season to assist with implementing program missions. Headwaters sites are also exploring opportunities to partner with local law enforcement to provide patrols at recreation areas. Volunteer programs and partnerships are being expanded.
Authority
The Rivers and Harbors Acts of 1880 (21 Stat. 180) and 1882 (22 Stat. 191) authorized the construction of the six dams. Congress directed the Secretary of War to establish regulations governing their operation through the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1888.
Funding
Fiscal year 2025 $4,839,000
Fiscal year 2025 workplan funding $4,778,000
Fiscal year 2026 allocation $6,172,000
Fiscal year 2027 full budget request $31,168,000