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River advocates urge attention to sediment and downstream impacts after Rabin dam partial failure
Summary
A citizen advocate told the subcommittee the June partial failure of the Rabin dam released millions of cubic yards of sediment downstream and urged the legislature to fund remediation and monitoring to prevent similar impacts with future dam removals.
St. Paul — A river advocate told the Subcommittee on Minnesota Water Policy Dec. 3 that the June partial failure of the Rabin (Rabin) Dam released millions of cubic yards of sediment downstream and urged the committee to consider remediation and long-term monitoring needs as the state evaluates future dam projects.
Greg Giddens, speaking for Friends of Pool 2 and other river groups, said the June event sent large volumes of sediment downriver, increased dredging needs in the Minnesota River, and raised questions about long‑term impacts to backwater lakes and channels. “June 24, we had partial failure of the dam,” Giddens said, estimating the release between 6 million and 12 million cubic yards of material depending on sources.
Giddens described prior warnings in 2019 about sediment behind the dam and said the magnitude of sediment now in the river — which the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had to address with larger-than-usual dredging in areas such as between Burnsville and Savage — poses persistent ecological and navigation concerns. He urged the legislature to consider both removal costs and downstream remediation.
Committee staff noted there is a long-term sediment monitoring station at Mankato and agreed to provide relevant data at a future meeting to help quantify increased sediment loads potentially attributed to the dam event.
The subcommittee did not take immediate action; members thanked Giddens for his testimony and staff committed to follow-up with sediment monitoring figures at the next meeting.
