Three Rivers Parks owns all of the land within the West Coon Rapids Dam Park boundaries on the Hennepin County side plus the entire Dam. The limits of the Dam are generally considered to include all of the structure including the main spillway, gates, control building, old powerhouse area, the earth dam that extends beyond the Anoka County Visitor Center, and all walkways, railings, fences and retaining walls both upstream and downstream which are connected to the Dam.
The land, buildings, parking lots, and boat launch on the Anoka County side are operated by the Anoka County Park System under a lease/purchase agreement with the Park District. The County boundary line runs down the center of the main channel, making the land and facilities on Dunn Island the property of the Anoka County Park System.
The Park District operates the Dam based on conditions of a permit issued by the MN Department of Natural Resources. The Permit calls for the control gates to be closed and the reservoir brought up to a specified elevation each spring “as soon as practical after the spring runoff” and for the gates to be opened each year “on or about Oct. 25” to lower the reservoir. Each spring or fall before raising or lowering the reservoir, the Dam operator is consulted to decide on a date to begin and the public is notified of the date.
For general updates on the dam status, call the Park District Hotline at 763.559.6778.
