Contact Public Affairs

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
St. Paul District
Public Affairs Office
332 Minnesota St., Suite E1500
St. Paul, MN 55101

Phone: (651) 290-5807
Fax: (651) 290-5752
cemvp-pa@usace.army.mil 

 

Corps begins spring drawdowns in the Red River of the North basin

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District
Published Feb. 2, 2021

ST. PAUL, Minn.  - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is lowering its reservoir elevations within the Red River of the North basin based on recent snow measurements to prepare for potential spring snowmelt.

The Corps is currently lowering the elevation of Lake Ashtabula, located near Valley City, North Dakota. The current elevation is 1,263.1 feet, and it will be further drawn down to 1,262.5 feet in time for spring runoff.

Elevation at Homme Dam, near Park River, North Dakota, is currently at 1,075.2 feet, and no further drawdown is planned.

Reservation Dam, part of the Lake Traverse project near Wheaton, Minnesota, is currently at 977.3 feet. The Reservation Dam pool will be lowered during March targeting 975.5 feet. White Rock Dam, also part of the Lake Traverse project, is currently at 971.8 feet and will hold steady.

Red Lake Dam, near Red Lake, Minnesota, is currently at elevation 1,174.6 feet. The lake level is slowly receding. The Corps will continue to release as much water as downstream conditions allow before spring runoff begins.

At this time, the Corps will commence normal drawdowns at the reservoirs due to dry to average conditions. The Corps is preparing for an average runoff year and will be monitoring precipitation and runoff forecasts closely for the next two months. Red Lake Dam is the only reservoir experiencing higher than average discharges due to wet conditions from last year.

-30-


Contact
Public Affairs

Release no. 21-010