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 projects would also change the character of some park and shoreline areas, prompting local concern about fishing access, water levels and the condition of newly exposed shoreline.

Details of the proposals and public outreach

Engineers described three alternatives for Chrissy Lake that vary in how much upstream pool is retained and where rock‑arch rapids would be placed. One alternative would create two rock‑arch rapids in series and lower the upstream pool by about 1.5 feet; another would preserve the existing upper pool elevation and construct longer rapids to accommodate that level. Rude said the DNR expects modeling that demonstrates the project will not increase 100‑year lake levels; in some alternatives the crest of the existing concrete structure would remain visible to reassure lakefront owners that the lake is not being drained.

Sofia said the Palme des Terre River Association, DNR and Houston Engineering have formed a steering committee and plan public information meetings. The project team described intended outreach tools: a soil‑and‑water district office open‑house format, mailers to nearby landowners, and posts to local organizational Facebook pages and websites. “The intention is to lay out the options, solicit input and capture questions and concerns from landowners,” Rude said.

Environmental and biological context

Presenters said the three projects aim to reconnect about 16 miles of river upstream of Chrissy Lake. Ted Rude said 15 fish species are absent upstream of the Chrissy Lake Dam and that the projects would likely allow about 11 of those species to reoccupy upstream habitat; presenters also said several mussel species are expected to regain upstream reaches by attaching to migrating fish. The team emphasized public‑safety benefits of removing low‑head dam rollers and the low‑maintenance nature of constructed riprap ramps.

Public comments and concerns

Before the presentation, resident Jeff Hendrickson addressed the board, saying he grew up using the park and that recreational shoreline and shore‑fishing opportunities matter to local families. “I am here foremost to speak up for the kids that still ride bike and fish at the park,” Hendrickson said. He urged designers to consider preserving pool area and to avoid creating long muddy shorelines that would be unusable for children.

Several county officials and members of the public asked whether the lake levels would change and what shoreline conditions people could expect. Presenters responded that (1) the Palm De Terre and Perkins designs are being modeled to maintain current hydraulic outflows and lake levels as permitted by the DNR, (2) Chrissy Lake alternatives include options that both lower and maintain the current upper pool, and (3) construction timing and extent of shoreline conversion to green space depend on the alternative chosen and on follow‑up design/mitigation decisions.

Next steps

Project leads said they will finalize permit submittals for Palm De Terre and Perkins and start permit applications for Chrissy Lake. An environmental assessment worksheet (EAW) for Chrissy Lake is planned for March–April; public information meetings and an open‑house format are being scheduled, and the steering committee will guide outreach content and format. The county and DNR will coordinate embankment and geotechnical analyses if designs require levers that affect the road or embankment stability.

Ending: The board received the presentation for information; no county vote was required at the meeting. The project team asked nearby landowners, the City of Morris and the steering committee to participate in upcoming open houses and public‑input sessions so that the DNR, watershed group and engineers can refine alternatives based on local feedback.