Lake Redwood Reclamation

The main objective of this final BMP project is to remove up to 650,000 cubic yards of sediment increasing the current average depth of 2.8 feet to its original maximum depth of 20 feet.
RCRCA a watershed based JPO and partners have implemented over $9,000,000 of BMPs, water quality monitoring and educational programming since 1994 reducing sedimentation by over 27,276 tons per year.
As with any river based reservoir, sedimentation will continue at the reduced rate of 0.13 feet per year (down from 1.5 feet), the return on investment will be realized over 3.4 years by trapping 16,500 tons annually from reaching the Minnesota River, the Mississippi River and eventually Lake Pepin. Ironically this trapping efficiency is an equivalent to spending $2,000,000,000 annually over the next 70 years in traditional conservation BMP implementation to equal the reclaimed storage.
Project outcomes include: treating TMDL impariments in the Minnesota River by trapping up to 16,500 tons of sediment and 11 tons of phosphorus annually, increased hydroelectric power generation for the City of Redwood Falls reducing the need of 14 train cars or 1,342 tons of coal as well as enhancing regional recreational opportunities.
Lake Redwood is one of two remaining lakes located in Redwood County and both are man made reservoirs.

LAKE REDWOOD RECLAMATION PROJECT