Minneapolis Lock and Dam Operation - Changes Coming?

Lock and Dam 1, from the St. Paul side of the river. A fleet of kayakers are entering the lock from upriver.

There are three locks and dams on the Mississippi in Minneapolis.  The responsibility for operation of the Locks is currently with the US Army Corps of Engineers, but that could change.   Studies are now in the works to determine if changes are needed, or indeed, if the dams are even needed.  What is decided here has potential to change the face of the Mississippi forever.

​Background:
​To facilitate water-borne commercial navigation (barges and tow boats).  Congress directed the construction of Lock and Dam 1 (also known as the Ford Dam) in 1917.  Lower St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam in 1956 and Upper St. Anthony Falls in 1963.  The US Army Corps of Engineers built these three locks projects and continues to operate and maintain them today.

In 2014, Congress directed that Upper St. Anthony Falls be closed within one year  In June 2015, the Corps of Engineers halted lock operations at Upper St. Anthony Falls Local and Dam, eliminated navigation above St. Anthony Falls.

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This slide show shows an excursion boat going through Lock and Dam 1 (aka the Ford Dam) on Sunday, October 15.  The boat navigates up along the lock wall and ties off.  The water in the lock is discharged downstream through a system of pipes until the water level matches the downstream level.  The upper lock doors close and the lower lock door opens, and the boat moves on downstream.  

Disposition Study:
The purpose of a disposition study is to determine whether there is federal interest in continuing to own and operate the lock and dams. If there is no longer a federal interest, the Corps is then directed to identify a viable disposal alternative.

Disposal means the locks and dams would be transferred out of federal ownership to a local, state, or federal agency. Before the locks and dams can be disposed of, Congress would need to deauthorize them, ending the navigation mission in Minneapolis.

In 2016, the Corps began studying the disposition of the three Minneapolis locks and dams. In 2018, the Corps was directed to separate the Upper St. Anthony Falls study from the Lower St. Anthony Falls and Lock and Dam 1 study.
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Disposition options include modification or removal of the dams along with other options.  

Upper St. Anthony Falls:
In January 2021, a draft disposition study for Upper St. Anthony Falls was published. Under the direction of Congress, lands surrounding the lock and dam will be conveyed to the city of Minneapolis. The draft disposition study report proposed disposal of the remainder of Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam. A final disposition study report and recommendations will be prepared following verification of lands to be conveyed to the city of Minneapolis. The report will be publicly available and published on the St. Paul District website.

Lower St. Anthony Falls and Dam 1:
A joint disposition study for Lower St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam and Lock and Dam 1 started Fall 2022. Public open houses are planned for October 2022. Details of those and future events and up-to-date information about the disposition study and the locks and dams can be found at https://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/MplsLocksDisp osition/. Early and continuing participation by a diversity of interests provides essential information and insights on alternatives.

Lock and Dam 1, between St. Paul and Minneapolis. The building on the right is the hydroelectric plant. There is no flow over the dam in this photo due to the extreme drought that Minnesota is experiencing.

Alternatives to be Studied:
The Corps will study combinations of the following alternatives:
• Full or partial disposal
• Modification of the locks and dams
• Removal of the locks and dams
• Potential opportunities for the locks and dams to serve a new purpose such as ecosystem restoration

A recommendation to Congress, the outcome of this disposition study, is not expected until 2024, at the earliest. A recommendation will be selected after all alternatives are fully evaluated.

Dam Removal:
The Corps is required to consider dam removal in its disposition studies. It is currently unknown whether dam removal will occur, if it would be carried out by the Corps prior to disposal, or if it would be carried out by a new owner after disposal.

What Effects Will Be Studied?
he Corps will study the effect of the various alternatives on the environment, including an evaluation of potential effects to water quality, fish and wildlife, historic and cultural resources, local communities, recreation, navigation, climate change, environmental and social justice, and energy generation (to name a few categories).

Learn more and share your views:
You can learn more about the study and our process by watching this brief video or visiting the USACE website for the project at this link. 

Comments concerning the scope of the study may also be submitted to: District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, ATTN: Regional Planning and Environment Division North, 332 Minnesota St., Suite E1500, St. Paul, MN  55101 or by email to [email protected]. Please provide your comments no later than Nov. 25.

Source material for this post taken from USACE fact sheet for the project and USACE website.  

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