Yellow Medicine River Watershed District | 122 N. Jefferson St. | PO Box 267 | Minneota, MN 56264 | 507-872-6720 | admin@ymrwd.org

© 2021 Yellow Medicine River Watershed District

Previous Capital Improvement Projects

Limestone 11 Dam Restoration (2015)

This dam was originally constructed in the early 1980s with design and funding assistance from the Soil Conservation Service. The structure is located 6.5 miles south and 2.5 miles west of Minneota, Minnesota, in Section 11, Range 44W, Township 112N in Lincoln County.  Reinforced concrete culverts are used in Area II’s dam restoration projects. Over the years, the corrugated metal culvert rusted and eventually washed out of the embankment. The restored embankment stands 23 feet high to create a normal pool of 2.4 acres with 12 feet maximum depth. The construction costs including easement were $58,569.09. The reservoir, owned and maintained by the property owner, provides floodwater retention and wildlife benefits and is not open to the public for recreational or hunting purposes.

Nordland 15 Dam (2013)

This dam is located 4 miles south and 2 miles west of Minneota, Minnesota, in Section 15, Range 43W, Township 112N in Lyon County. The embankment stands 15 feet high to create a normal pool of 1.3 acres with 8 feet maximum depth. The construction costs including easement were $85,192.81. The reservoir, owned and maintained by the property owner provides floodwater retention and wildlife benefits and is not open to the public for recreational or hunting purposes.

Island Lake 4 Dam (2009)

This dam is located 10 miles west of Marshall, Minnesota, in Section 4, Range 43W, Township 111N in Lyon County. The embankment stands 41.0 feet high creating a normal pool of 6.2 acres with 34 feet maximum depth. Construction costs including easement were $170,872.60. The reservoir, owned and maintained by the property owner, provides floodwater retention, wildlife benefits, and fishing/ recreation, and is not open to the public for recreational or hunting purposes.

Alta Vista 36 Road Retention/Fier Project (2006)

The flood damage reduction project was constructed in coordination with the Lincoln/Lyon County road improvement and the Lincoln County bridge replacement on Lincoln County Highway 18 and Lyon County Highway 10, west of Minneota, Minnesota, in Section 36, Range 44W, Township 113N in Lincoln County, 5 miles west of Minneota, Minnesota. The project was designed to control the runoff from a 5,120-acre watershed, increase the height of the roadway by 16 feet, and create a floodwater storage area of 44.8 acres. The cost of the retention project was $658,603.34 and was funded by a collaboration of sources, including the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) Local Road Improvement Funds, State of Minnesota Bonding, Lincoln County MNDOT State Aid Funds, Lincoln County in-kind, YMRWD, and Lyon County.

Sonstegaard-Telste Reservoir (1983)

This reservoir is located 5 miles south and ½ mile west of Minneota, Minnesota, in Section 27, Range 43W, Township 112N in Lyon County. The embankment stands 42.5 feet high to create a normal pool of 15.4 acres with 20.1 feet maximum depth. The construction costs including easement were $369,600. The reservoir is owned and maintained by the YMRWD with annual inspections conducted by the YMRWD, Area II, Lyon SWCD, and NRCS. The reservoir provides floodwater retention as well as wildlife benefits, is located on private property, and is not open to the public.

Fales-VanHyfte Reservoir/Lake John (1981)

This reservoir is located 3 miles west of Porter, Minnesota, in Section 36, Range 45W, Township 114N in Yellow Medicine County. The embankment stands 45.0 feet high to create a normal pool of 19.8 acres with 19.8 feet maximum depth. The construction costs including easement were $433,800. The reservoir is owned and maintained by the YMRWD with annual inspections conducted by the YMRWD, Area II, Yellow Medicine SWCD, and NRCS. The reservoir provides floodwater retention, wildlife benefits, and fishing/recreation as it is open to the public for recreational or hunting purposes.

Limestone 1 Road Retention (2012)

This water retention structure included cooperation from four separate landowners, three townships, and two counties (Lincoln/Lyon) and is located 4.5 miles west and 1 mile south of Minneota, Minnesota. The retention project is located in Section 1, Range 44W, Township 112N with an adjoining bridge downsizing between Section 36, Range 44W, Township 113N, and Section 31, Range 43W, Township 113N. The cost of the project was $156,158.57. In addition to floodwater retention, road-safety issues were resolved by raising the roadways and reshaping a troublesome hill for snow removal.

Anderson Lake (1987)

This reservoir is located in Section 6, Range 45W, Township 111N approximately 2 miles west and 0.5 mile south of Ivanhoe, Minnesota, in Lincoln County. The embankment stands 18 feet high to create a normal pool of 240 acres with 2 feet normal depth. A flood pool of 350 acres develops with the 14,080-acre drainage area. The construction costs were $60,000 and the project is owned and maintained by DNR who is responsible for inspections. The reservoir provides floodwater retention, wetland restoration, wildlife benefits and is open to the public.

Hauschild-Thange Reservoir (1980)

This reservoir is located 7 miles east and 2 miles north of Ivanhoe, Minnesota, in Section 25, Range 44W, Township 112N in Lincoln County. The embankment stands 52.2 feet high to create a normal pool of 27.0 acres with 19.3 feet maximum depth. The construction costs including easement were $433,800. The reservoir is owned and maintained by the YMRWD with annual inspections conducted by the YMRWD, Area II, Lincoln SWCD, and NRCS. The reservoir provides floodwater retention as well as wildlife benefits, is located upon private property, and is not open to the public for recreational or hunting purposes.

Dillon-Syltie-Boulton Dam/Porter Dam (1974)

This reservoir is located 1.5 miles south of Porter, Minnesota, in Section 9, Range 44W, Township 113N in Yellow Medicine County. The embankment stands 32 feet high to create a normal pool of 19 acres with 18 feet maximum depth. The construction costs including easement were $89,600. The reservoir is owned and maintained by the YMRWD with annual inspections conducted by the YMRWD, Area II, Lincoln SWCD, and NRCS. The reservoir provides floodwater retention, wildlife benefits, and fishing/recreation as it is open to the public for recreational or hunting purposes.