Caution urged as Corps of Engineers sets date for winter drawdown at Homme Dam

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is lowering the reservoir elevation at Homme Dam within the Red River of the North basin in anticipation of spring snow melt.

Elevation at the Homme Dam, near Park River, North Dakota, is currently at 1,076.9 feet NGVD29, and starting March 11 the reservoir will be drawn down to at least 1,064 feet NGVD29 by March 30. Initial discharges will be in the range of 50-60 cubic feet per second.

As always, drawdown releases may degrade river ice downstream of reservoirs and care should be taken for those recreating or working in these areas.

Spring drawdowns are done in concurrence with snow surveys, which are nearing completion. Surveys help determine how much water is contained within snow to help determine drawdown levels.

Drawdowns at other reservoirs within the Red River of the North basin have been ongoing since late February/early March, and target elevations can be found at:

https://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Releases/Article/1767939/corps-of-engineers-begins-winter-drawdowns-in-red-river-of-the-north-basin/.

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