The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released the new "waters of the United States" rule. But a decision in Sackett v. EPA could still change U.S. water policy.
Work on the Churchill Dam at Lac qui Parle Lake requires limiting traffic to one lane on Chippewa County Road 13 and Lac qui Parle County Road 33 where the roads meet on the bridge by the dam.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking public comment on its draft master plan and environmental assessment for four Minnesota reservoirs, including the Lac qui Parle dam.
Work is underway in Montevideo on the final of three levee segment upgrades to provide flood protection against waters like those seen in 1997 and 2001. Work on the final levee segment is made possible by a $3.5 million bonding allocation from the state.
An opportunity to purchase what is now Mitlyng's Bait and Tackle sounded like a good idea to two brothers who loved to hunt and fish back in 1974. One of those brothers has stayed with it ever since, knowing that his customers still consider a bait shop near the Lac qui Parle dam a very good idea indeed.
The ditch authority for Joint Ditch 9 serving Chippewa and Swift counties heard opposition to a $2 million repair project from downstream landowners, but also some support from upstream landowners when the authority conducted a hearing on the redetermination of benefits needed for the project to go forward. The authority continued the hearing to March 29 and is likely to approve the redetermination.
Work on the project is anticipated to begin in early September. The cofferdams are expected to be in place by Oct. 2, and will be in place for two to three weeks or until the maintenance is complete.
Not everyone appreciates the sandbars and mud flats being exposed as the waters of Marsh Lake are purposely lowered. Yet wildlife managers are excited by what they see. The vegetation sprouting on these newly exposed areas is the very foundation for what they hope to accomplish here.
Anglers are advised that the water level on Marsh Lake is dropping and will be low for the fishing opener. A planned drawdown, reduced snowpack in the winter and relatively dry spring are allowing the water level to drop
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Upper Sioux Community will study the feasibility of a shoreline stabilization project along the Minnesota River. It could lead to a $700,000 project to stabilize an eroding shoreline where the river might cut a new channel on tribal lands.
