Purpose
The purpose of this work is to determine whether continued operation and ownership of the Upper St. Anthony Falls (USAF) Lock project is in the federal interest, and if not, consider alternatives for disposal of the property.
Location
The USAF project is located on the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Description
The USAF Lock was ordered closed to navigation on June 9, 2015, under Section 2010 of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014.
Sections 1168 and 1225 of America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, directed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to expedite completion of a disposition study for USAF and to examine partial disposal, environmental and natural resource improvement opportunities, and dam removal.
Section 356 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (WRDA 2020) directed that all or substantially all lands around the USAF Lock be conveyed to the city of Minneapolis and that additional licenses and easements be granted to the city for any lands and features that are not otherwise conveyed.
Status
USACE published a draft disposition study report in January 2021, recommending full disposal of features not conveyed to the city under WRDA 2020. The remaining features include the lock structure, an upstream crossover wall, guide walls, dolphins, and the downstream rock dike. The draft report invited outside parties to submit letters of interest in future ownership: at this time, no party has expressed interest. Formal tribal and Section 106 consultation began in February 2021. A revised draft report was released for public comment in June 2025. The final report was approved by the Director of Civil Works in January 2026. The study found that there is not a federal interest in maintaining the current authorized purpose of navigation at USAF.
Conveyance activities began in June 2022. In December 2022, USACE identified lands available for conveyance to the city. Due to the ongoing navigation mission and operation and maintenance (O&M) needs, excess lands are subject to USACE-reserved rights for O&M, and conveyance would exclude significant tracts of interest to the city. As a result, the city’s provisional designee, Owámniyomni Okhódayapi, is interested in modifying the structure and functions to meet its goals prior to conveyance.
In March 2024, an outgrant was issued to the city of Minneapolis’ agent, Owámniyomni Okhódayapi. The outgrant is an interim step to full conveyance pending submittal of the abovementioned modification. The disposition report was completed once the maximum extent of the conveyance of land was understood. The disposition study finding recommends disposal of the remaining features, when and if a willing and capable nonfederal public entity is identified to assume ownership.
Authority
Section 216 of the Flood Control Act of 1970 allows USACE to study the disposal of completed projects. Federal property disposal is managed by the General Services Administration, as governed by federal law.
Funding
The USAF disposition study cost was $2,363,330. Full funding was provided through the fiscal year 2025 workplan.