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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
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Public to see increase in activity at Lac Qui Parle Dam

Published Oct. 29, 2016

UPDATED to reflect to correct the management of Highway 13 from the state to the county.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is investigating a sinkhole that developed yesterday on the western, downstream side of the Lac Qui Parle Dam embankment.

Water being passed through gates on that side of the dam has been stopped and crews will remove part of the earthen cofferdam in order to pass water from the eastern upstream-side of the dam. The cofferdam was previously constructed for a gate maintenance project, which was suspended last week due to excessive rains and high flows.

Also, a concrete slab on the western, downstream-side of the dam bridge will be removed, allowing inspectors greater access to the structure to determine the extent of the sinkhole.

Chippewa County highway department may also take measures to reduce or close traffic on Highway 13 in the vicinity.

Over the weekend, the public may also see an increase of flows downriver from the dam.

Despite this activity, the dam does not pose a threat to public safety. Corps staff are onsite and monitoring the status.

The nearly 600 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, employees working at more than 40 sites in five upper-Midwest states serve the American public in the areas of environmental enhancement, navigation, flood damage reduction, water and wetlands regulation, recreation sites and disaster response. Through the Corps’ Fiscal Year 2015 $100 million budget, nearly 1,600 non-Corps jobs were added to the regional economy as well as $155 million to the national economy. For more information, see www.mvp.usace.army.mil.

 

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Release no. 16-088