The Shell Rock River Watershed District recently got approval and funding to restore a large portion of the watershed in Freeborn County. Included in this plan is the building of a new dam on Albert Lea Lake.

“It’s been such an issue, but we feel this is probably the best route to take,” Andy Henschel said. “This has been in the works for quite a while.”

Henschel is the director of field operations for the Shell Rock River Watershed District. He said that the money the district has set aside for the dam from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is still there for them to use. It is possible that funding from this restoration project also could pay for dam expenses.

Funding for the entire plan is budgeted at about $7.5 million. Almost $5 million will be from the Army Corps of Engineers and about $2.5 million will come from local funding from sales tax and in-kind services, which is local staff time used for the project.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has allocated $100,000 for the first phase of the project and has also appointed a 16-person team of engineers, analysts, a community planner and an archaeologist. Of that team, three are local staff who have been traveling to Rock Island, Ill., to discuss the project with the rest of the team. The first phase includes a study to address problems and objectives of the project. The study will finish in 2012.

Henschel said the study takes about two years because feasibility planning can take almost a year, and then after that there’s a design phase before implementation can happen. During the design phase the Albert Lea Dam will be designed and will include some new features. Henschel said the group wants to incorporate new things like an electric fish barrier, to keep out Asian carp, and a fish passage, so northerns can migrate up the river and spawn in the lake. He also said there are other new projects he’s excited about.

“We’ll be working on a deep water habitat and also formation or creation of islands to reduce shoreline erosion problems,” Henschel said. “So there are some interesting pieces of the project that could possibly take place for Albert Lea Lake.”

Henschel said the project has been in the works for about eight years, and finally this spring the Army Corps of Engineers said they could move forward with the project.

The project is officially called the Freeborn County Section 206 Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Project. It will restore almost 3,000 acres of Albert Lea Lake and other wetlands. Fountain Lake and the Shell Rock River will benefit from reduced sediment inputs, but the project does not affect either water body significantly. The Albert Lea Lake watershed is about 157,000 acres in size and is located entirely in Freeborn County.

Next Tuesday, the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners will consider a request from the watershed district for the submission of a letter to the Lessard Sams Outdoor Hertiage Fund to assist with the purchase of the land adjacent to the Albert Lea Dam as part of this restoration project. Look to the Tribune website for more information as it becomes available.

Project goals include:

• Topsoil conservation and erosion and sedimentation control
• Shore land conservation and restoration
• Development and implementation of lake management plans
• Partnerships to identify and reduce pollution entering Albert Lea Lake
• Maintaining and enhancing fisheries and aquatic habitat
• Maintaining efficient storm water systems
• Implementation of storm water best management practices (BMPs)
• Flood control and floodplain preservation
• Wetland protection, enhancement and restoration
• Groundwater protection
• Partnerships and data sharing
• Education and public involvement