Corps adjusts Lake Darling releases ahead of spring snowmelt

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is increasing the water outflow from Lake Darling, northwest of Minot, North Dakota, ahead of the spring snowmelt.

The Corps plans to increase outflows to 1,200 cubic feet per second, or cfs, today. Based on conditions upstream of Lake Darling and the National Weather Service forecast, the Corps anticipates additional outflow increases next week. This outflow, combined with flows from the Des Lacs River, could increase the total flow at Minot 4 Northwest Bridge to around 2,000-4,000 cfs. The actual flow will be determined, in large part, by how fast the snowmelt begins. The Corps is coordinating with its federal, state and local partners and anticipates the snowmelt to begin as early as this weekend.  

The Corps assumed operations of Lake Darling Dam from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service following the International Souris River Board declaration that this year is a 1:10 flood event. The Corps takes over water management operations at Lake Darling when the forecast indicates there is the potential for flooding within the basin. This is in accordance with the 1989 International Agreement.  

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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