DNR, Three Rivers To Partner on Barrier
January 20, 2012

Three Rivers Park District and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are partnering to take the first step toward protecting northern Minnesota waters from Asian carp.

The two agencies have finalized a joint powers agreement that paves the way for the refurbishment of the Coon Rapids Dam to serve as a barrier against aquatic invasive species. The 99-year-old dam spans the Mississippi River between the cities of Brooklyn Park and Coon Rapids. In 2011, the Minnesota Legislature provided $16 million to the DNR to modify Coon Rapids Dam for use as a fish barrier.

The project will include replacement of the gate system that holds back the river flow and creates the recreational pool upstream from the dam. Because some invasive carp species are able to jump several feet out of the water, it is important that the difference in height between the water below the dam and the pool above it be as great as possible. The upcoming project is expected to substantially increase the dam’s effectiveness as a fish barrier, which will position the dam as an important line of defense in the state’s effort to keep Asian carp from spreading to northern Minnesota waters.

“Fishing, boating and water recreation are critical components of Minnesota’s economy and central to our way of life in this state,” said Larry Blackstad, Chair of the Three Rivers Park District Board of Commissioners. “This project is an example of government agencies working together to solve problems. The DNR is sharing its expertise in aquatic species management, and the barrier is being built at the Coon Rapids Dam, which Three Rivers has owned and operated for more than 40 years.”

The Coon Rapids Dam was built in 1913 by Northern States Power Co. (NSP) as a hydroelectric generating facility. When NSP stopped using it to generate power in the 1960s, the power company donated the dam and surrounding lands on both sides of the river to the Park District. Three Rivers Park District owns and operates Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park on the west side of the river in Brooklyn Park. The fish barrier project will not affect the future operations of the regional park.

“This is an important step in the evolution of the Coon Rapids Dam,” said Commissioner Marilynn Corcoran, who represents the cities of Brooklyn Park and Champlin on the Three Rivers Park District Board of Commissioners. “The walkway across the dam and the fishing deck will be preserved, so it will continue to be a recreational amenity for the communities on both sides of the river. Once this project is completed, the dam’s role will expand to include serving as a crucial part of Minnesota’s line of defense against invasive fish species.”

Design work is expected to begin on the dam refurbishment within the next few weeks, and the current timeline estimates completion of the project in the fall of 2014. In a letter to Board Chair Blackstad, DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr wrote, “The cooperation of the Board and its staff in resolving the complex issues around the ownership, reconstruction, liability, and operation of the dam is greatly appreciated. I know that we share the same goal of protecting the state’s natural resources for future generations, and the cooperation between your staff and mine has further highlighted this fact.”