Corps to complete its drawdowns of reservoirs in the Red River of North basin

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, will begin the drawdown of four of its western area reservoirs to the maximum drawdown elevations in preparation of spring flooding forecasted by the National Weather Service. 

The Corps’ drawdown plans include:

Homme Dam, located near Park River, N.D., will be lowered to its maximum elevation of 1,064 feet by the end of March. The Corps initiated part of the drawdown at the dam in November 2012. The Corps will begin the final portion of the drawdown at the reservoir March 8. The pool is currently at elevation 1,076 feet. 

Lake Traverse, near Wheaton, Minn., is targeted to reach its maximum drawdown elevation of 974 feet by the end of the month. The reservoir is currently one foot below the conservation level with two feet remaining.

Orwell Reservoir, near Fergus Falls, Minn., is targeted to reach its maximum drawdown elevation of 1,050 feet by the end of March. The reservoir is currently just above elevation 1,063 feet.     

Baldhill Dam, near Valley City, N.D., is targeted to reach its maximum drawdown elevation of 1,257 feet by the end of March. The Corps initiated part of the drawdown in October 2012. The reservoir is currently just above elevation 1,262 feet.

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.

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