Engineers outline rock‑arch rapids plans for Palm De Terre, Chrissy Lake; county schedules public outreach

MORRIS, Minn. — Engineers working with the Palme des Terre River Association and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources presented design and permitting plans at a Stevens County Board meeting for rock‑arch rapids projects that would replace or modify dams at Palm De Terre (Palm De Terre Dam), Perkins Lake and Chrissy Lake.

The presentation, given by Ted Rude of Houston Engineering and introduced by Sofia, the Palme des Terre River Association watershed coordinator, described how a rock‑arch (riprap) ramp with boulder weirs and resting pools would provide fish passage while aiming to match current outflows and lake levels required by DNR dam safety permitting. “We’re just starting the permitting process,” Rude said. He told commissioners the Palm De Terre and Perkins projects are at final plan stages and likely to be bid together, with construction targeted for fall 2025. For Chrissy Lake, staff expect an environmental review and permitting cycle before a possible construction start in fall 2026.

Why it matters: county staff and the DNR say the measures would reduce long‑term maintenance costs of aging concrete dams, improve aquatic habitat connectivity and reduce the public‑safety hazards associated with low‑head dams. The…