FARGO — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says it will begin drawing down water in Lake Traverse near Wheaton in preparation for the spring melt in the Red River Valley.

Corps officials will begin releasing approximately 400 cubic feet per second on Tuesday, in an effort to lower the reservoir by nearly a foot by March 1. The water will flow north through Mud Lake and White Rock Dam before entering the Bios de Sioux River.

Corps officials were encouraging caution during this time because of the increased river flows. They said ice conditions will deteriorate and become unsafe on the Bois de Sioux River as far downstream as Wahpeton and Breckenridge.