Board hears update on Highway 9 dam-removal project; FEMA revises hypothetical repair estimate to about $28 million

Blue Earth County public works staff briefed the board on progress toward design and permitting for the proposed dam removal and the adjacent Highway 9 bridge on July 7, 2026, and reported that FEMA had provided a revised hypothetical repair cost estimate.

Ryan (Public Works) said the county had submitted revised roadway plans and noted long lead times for drilled-shaft casings. He reported that on June 29 TKDA provided comments about casings needing 10 to 14 weeks lead time and that staff are pressing to get plans to bidders so project authorization can stay on schedule. He said the county is advancing both design Options 2 and 4 through the 60% plans stage "in order to avoid the potential for that amendment process and the time lost."

Ryan described recent regulatory milestones: on June 29 FERC issued a letter to the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office concluding that approval of the proposed dam-removal undertaking "with implementation of proposed avoidance and minimization measures would not adversely affect any historic properties" in the area of potential effect, pending SHPO concurrence. Ryan also said FEMA is reviewing the county's documentation and, on July 1, provided a revised hypothetical repair cost estimate of $28,054,147; he described this as an increase from earlier figures and said Barr Engineering supplied technical memoranda supporting additional project costs.

Staff told the board that geotechnical issues — including seepage cutoff tied to bedrock and downstream slope erosion protection — had added to the cost and that Barr provided an additional $5,412,000 in justifications for needed work. The county emphasized that FERC/NEPA review timelines and permit issuance remain contingent on the county delivering 60% plans by late August; if those milestones slip, the county may need to request time extensions from FEMA and others.

No formal vote on project authorization or funding was taken at the meeting. Commissioners commended staff for securing the revised FEMA estimate and asked staff to continue coordinating with Barr Engineering and FEMA. Staff said they will follow up with permit authorities and return with additional materials as plans advance.

The county also discussed conservation context: staff noted recognition by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for lands enrolled under a Monarch Butterfly Conservancy agreement and said the county will verify partner lists to determine whether county lands will be excluded from final critical-habitat designations.