28 Oct 2015

History of the Headwaters Recreation Areas

The Mississippi River Headwaters dams, located in north central Minnesota, were constructed and placed in operation between 1884 and 1912. Maj. General Warren, the first St. Paul District commander, noted the importance of the Mississippi River Headwaters area during field surveys in the 1860s. Less than 10 years later, Congress authorized a feasibility study to determine whether a series of dams and reservoirs could aid in stabilizing water flow in the Mississippi River between St. Paul, Minnesota, and Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. As a result, a system of dams capable of raising water levels and storing annual spring runoff from six existing lake systems was designated. These structures are located at the outlets of Gull Lake, Leech Lake, Big Sandy Lake, Cross Lake, Pokegama Lake and Lake Winnibigoshish. Two of these lakes, Leech and Winnibigoshish, are located within the Leech Lake Indian Reservation.

28 Oct 2015

Red River Flood of 2009

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, declared a victory late April 2009 after facing massive flooding in the Red River of the North river valley for more than a month-and-a-half. By the end of the fight, the district had distributed 11.3 million sandbags, 4,201 rolls of plastic and 136 pumps, as well as let 50 contracts, built approximately 70 miles of emergency levee and spent more than $32 million.

28 Oct 2015

Floods of 1997

The St. Paul District faced one of its biggest challenges ever when, in the timeframe of around six weeks in 1997, it simultaneously fought floods in three river basins – the Red, the Minnesota and the Mississippi.

27 Aug 2015

Division commander visits North Dakota projects

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Mississippi Valley Division Commander Maj. Gen. Michael Wehr and St. Paul District Commander Col. Dan Koprowski visited the cities of Minot and Devils Lake, North Dakota, July 6-8, to meet with members of Congress, state and local officials and to see Corps projects in the region.

21 Aug 2015

Roseau flood project dedicated

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, celebrated the completion of its Roseau, Minnesota, Flood Damage Reduction Project with a ribbon cutting ceremony in Roseau, Aug. 18.

5 Sep 2012

Commanders tour, dedicate North Dakota project

North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple and Mississippi Valley Division Commander Maj. Gen. John Peabody dedicated the district’s Tolna Coulee project with a ribbon cutting ceremony July 19. The ceremony was part of a three-day North Dakota tour undertaken by Peabody July 17-19, which also included attending a Devils Lake Executive Committee meeting in Bismarck, N.D., and making stops in Devils Lake, N.D., Minot, N.D., and Valley City, N.D.

11 Apr 2012

District, Valley City, N.D., sign agreement, marking the beginning of a feasibility study along the Sheyenne River

The district kicked off the Valley City, Sheyenne River Flood Risk Management Feasibility Study during a signing ceremony in Valley City, N.D., April 10. Col. Michael Price, district commander, and Valley City Mayor Bob Werkhoven signed the cost-sharing agreement in front of local officials and the media to mark the beginning of this $1.5 million study that is expected to take 2 1/2 years to complete.

15 Mar 2012

Silver Jackets support district, communities

During a flood disaster, first responders often arrive wearing distinctively colored coats etched with their agency’s name. While the colors and acronyms can be many, one group is working to build a bridge of cooperation among the various federal, state and local government agencies tasked with responding to a flood.

15 Feb 2012

Despite winter conditions, the district continues Tolna Coulee outlet construction

Amid rolling hills and a lake that continues invading communities in central North Dakota, lies a control structure here that the district is building to prevent catastrophic erosion.

15 Feb 2012

Gull Lake park rangers use teamwork to prepare for summer

The Gull Lake Recreation Area, just north of Brainerd, Minn., has served as a district flood control project for the past 100 years. While the dam regulates the water levels on the chain of lakes, the park rangers that oversee the dam’s operations and maintenance take care of more than just the gate adjustments.