Current Status:
A revised draft report was released for a 30 day public and agency review on June 10, 2025. Appendix K documents comments received and how those comments were considered in the final report.
The final report was approved January, 26 2026. The final report and appendices are available at: https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16021coll7/id/28884
Background:
Congress directed the construction of Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam project in 1963, as authorized by the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1937, to facilitate waterborne commercial navigation. USAF is located at Mississippi River mile 853.9, in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The USAF dam design includes a horseshoe dam with a chord dam downstream of the horseshoe and a concrete overflow spillway owned by Xcel Energy Center. The Lock is 56 feet wide by 400 feet long. Congress ordered USAF to close to navigation June 9, 2015, under Section 2010 of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014.
Following the congressional direction to close USAF, USACE initiated a disposition study. The disposition study evaluated whether USAF should be deauthorized, and if the associated real property and government-owned improvements should undergo disposal. The study was authorized by Section 216 of the Flood Control Act of 1970 (33 U.S.C. § 426 et seq.) as amended.
Congress provided additional direction for the Section 216 study through the following:
§ Sections 168 and 225 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2018 (WRDA 2018) directed USACE to first complete a study for USAF and to examine an alternative in which USACE retains operation and maintenance of the flood risk reduction features of the project, while making other portions of the project available for disposition and redevelopment.
WRDA 2018 Sec. 1168 disposition of projects
and
WRDA 2018 Sec. 1225 Upper Mississippi River Protection
§ Section 356 of the Water Resources Development Act of December 27, 2020 (WRDA 2020), directed that all, or substantially all, of the lands around the USAF lock be conveyed to the city of Minneapolis, and that additional licenses and easements be granted to the city for any lands and features that are not otherwise conveyed in fee.
WRDA 2020 Section 356
§ WRDA 2020 required the city of Minneapolis submit a formal request for the lands they wish to be conveyed. USACE released a revised draft disposition report on January 19, 2021, excluding from the disposition recommendation any properties that are to be conveyed to the city of Minneapolis.
In January 2021, a draft disposition study for USAF was published. Following release of the draft report, Congress directed the Corps, through the WRDA 2020, to convey excess lands adjacent to USAF, to the city of Minneapolis, or its designated entity. Owa’mniyomni Okho’dayapi (OO) is the city’s provisional designee for the for the land conveyance.
The Water Resources and Development Act of 2020 was signed into law December 27, 2020, and directed that lands at Upper St. Anthony Falls be conveyed to the city of Minneapolis or its designee, and that the federal government provide the city of Minneapolis or its designee licenses on the remaining property for a comprehensive recreational, touristic and interpretive experience.
Conveyance activities are paid for by the city. Conveyance activities began in June 2022. In December 2022, the Corps identified lands available for conveyance to the city and its agent, OO. Due to ongoing navigation authorization and operation and maintenance needs, excess lands would be subject to USACE reserved rights and does not include significant tracts of interest to the city.
As a result, the city wants to determine the feasibility of modifying the existing structure and functions to meet their goal of enhancing the site prior to any tract conveyance. OO has provided a site plan and submitted a 408 application to develop current Corps lands at USAF into a park that “restores connections to Haha Wakpa, Dakota culture and language.” A 408 application allows the requesting entity to alter a Corps Civil Works project, provided the design changes will not be injurious to the public interest and will not impair the usefulness of USAF for navigation.
USACE has determined an outgrant for a period of 25 years is allowed based upon OO’s request. The special conditions ensure proposed modification activities will not impede the required Corps operation and maintenance activities onsite, will not increase expenses for federal government and will ensure compatibility with the other parties onsite.
The disposition study for USAF Lock and Dam resumed in May 2019. A draft report recommending full disposal was made available for public comment in December 2020. A public meeting was held March 3, 2021. The study proceeded as funding was available.