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Mitchell council reviews Lake Mitchell drawdown plan and explores selling newly created shoreline
Summary
Councilors reviewed a timeline for drawing down and dredging Lake Mitchell, discussed using $3.5 million in budgeted drawdown funds to finish design work now, and debated a mayoral proposal to use dredged material to create buildable shoreline lots subject to Army Corps permitting.
The Mitchell City Council spent a work session on an updated schedule for Lake Mitchell’s drawdown and dredging and on an exploratory proposal to create new shoreline from dredged material that could be leased or sold.
City staff presented an updated timeline and technical approach. “The plan is to draw down the lake in 2025 by using pumps,” said Speaker 8, describing the method and the intent to allow contractors to inspect the dry lakebed before bidding dredging work. The dredging phase was described as beginning in late winter or early spring 2026 and continuing toward completion in 2027–28.
Councilors discussed funding and design sequencing. Speaker 4 told colleagues that $3,500,000 is budgeted for the drawdown and proposed authorizing a portion of those funds now to finish the dredge design rather than wait another year for budget cycles. “So basically what we’re gonna do is just get authorization to use the $3,500,000 that’s budgeted for the drawdown to finish the lake design,” Speaker 4 said.
Mayor and other councilors raised a separate development idea: after the lake is drawn down, the city could use dredged or other clean fill to build up shoreline parcels, potentially selling or leasing them for restaurants, marinas or housing. Speaker 1 framed the idea as a potential revenue source and acknowledged permitting constraints: “It would have to get permitted with the Army Corps of Engineers — that would be the biggest hurdle,” Speaker 1 said, and suggested framing proposed land changes as water-quality enhancements to improve permitability.
Staff cautioned that design and permitting details remain to be worked out. Speaker 8 said pump placement is tentatively planned near the spillway and that discharge methods (hoses or staging) will be refined in final design. Council members urged clear public outreach so residents understand that the lake is expected to remain in place through at least the coming year and that drawdown work will follow the published schedule.
Next steps: staff will seek council authorization to use budgeted drawdown funds to complete dredge design, continue permitting discussions with the Army Corps and Natural Resources partners, and prepare public-facing materials to clarify timing and impacts on recreation and marinas.
