River plan

draws

critical

response

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- A North Mankato man's plan for a 12-mile-long reservoir on the Minnesota River just west of New Ulm is drawing less than enthusiastic reviews from those most intimately involved with the river here.

Ken Weilage whose interest stems from years of living along the river and a strong interest in the outdoors has proposed placing a "low-level control structure" at County Road 13, just west of New Ulm, creating a reservoir which would extend up-river to Highway 4, north of Sleepy Eye.

"Imagine a future Harkin Lake that would be 12 miles long and approximately 2 miles wide with an average depth of 12.5 feet," he said. "From 200 to 300 million yards of soil, sand, and gravel could be excavated to create the lakebed. The sand and gravel could be recycled to help alleviate the expected gravel shortage in the future."

He envisions a marina and parking lot at the Harkin Store with residential developments on either side. On the opposite side of the lake, there would be condominiums, as well as residential lots.

"It's an idea that was looked at decades ago," said Dave Leuthe, head of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' regional water division in New Ulm. "There would be many environmental considerations, and it would be a real challenge with lots of different landowners being displaced."

"There have been many proponents over the course of time for such a plan," said Scott Sparlin, New Ulm, executive director of Coalition for a Clean Minnesota River. "I disagree that placing a dam is a river improvement. It's been proven that dams are detrimental to rivers because they create catch-basins for silt and don't clean up the rivers."

Sparlin said, across the country, many dams are being removed, and few, if any, new dams are being built.

"We have a perfect example right here in New Ulm with the Cottonwood River dam below Schell's Brewery. Much money was spent in getting rid of that."

Weilage acknowledges siltation will be a constant concern. He said after the main channel is dredged to make the lakebed, "there would need to be monthly dredging of the river channel at the Highway 4 bridge."

"That's exactly what will need to be done; otherwise, the reservoir will fill right back up with silt," Sparlin said. "And that's going to be expensive."

He also disputes Weilage's flood-control benefit assessment.

"What you have is when the dam, especially a low-level structure, is full, it has no flood control capability."

Leuthe said a New Ulm man, Dr. George Germann, had a similar plan years ago in which the dam would have been placed near the Beussman bridge.

Germann declined to discuss his plan, saying, "That was a long time ago, and I have no further interest in it."

Sparlin doesn't believe Weilage's plan represents "thinking outside the box" because it's a common solution.

"Thinking outside the box would be putting back about 1,500 lakes in south-central and southwest Minnesota that were drained during the past century," Sparlin said. "We should put back lakes like Eagle Lake in Winthrop that was drained in the '40s. I agree with Mr. Weilage that the recreational benefits derived are a major plus, and what better way is there of increasing recreational use than restoring those natural lakes that were drained?"