Corps stops releasing water at Lake Traverse due to dry conditions

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, has halted water releases from its Reservation Dam at Lake Traverse and White Rock Dam at Mud Lake, near Wheaton, Minnesota.

Corps engineers stopped the water releases at Reservation Dam June 7 and halted discharges at White Rock Dam June 8. Both Lake Traverse and Mud Lake are at their target summer operating levels, but limited inflow coming into the reservoirs has made it necessary to stop the releases. The Lake Traverse water level is currently at 976.7 feet and Mud Lake is 972.0 feet. Current and historical lake levels can be accessed at www.mvp-wc.usace.army.mil or https://water.usace.army.mil/.

The reservoirs are regulated in accordance with their respective water management plans. These plans specifically dictate target elevation levels for various times during the year based on current conditions within the region. Corps officials have started exploring options to modify the existing management plans, and they are preparing to host a public meeting on potential options to improve the plans and the environment next month. The details of the public meeting will be announced once the plans are finalized.

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