Corps of Engineers forego Homme Lake fall drawdown

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, will not perform a fall drawdown of Homme Lake, near Park River, N.D., because of the current drought conditions.

The Corps’ water management team will continue monitoring and assessing the lake elevation and any future precipitation events throughout the fall and winter. If needed, the Corps will conduct appropriate releases in order to achieve the necessary reservoir storage prior to the spring runoff.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the Homme Reservoir and surrounding area has been in a moderate drought/abnormally dry level since the middle of December 2011 and in a moderate/severe drought since September 2012. As of Nov. 7, the current lake elevation is 1,079.76 feet. Historically, the Corps draws down Homme Lake 4 feet during the fall.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, serves the American public in the areas of environmental enhancement, navigation, flood damage reduction, water and wetlands regulation, recreation sites and disaster response. It contributes around $175 million to the five-state district economy. The 700 employees work at more than 40 sites in five upper-Midwest states. For more information, see www.mvp.usace.army.mil.