Cold Spring Council Set to Debate Support for Sauk River Dam

(KNSI) – The Cold Spring City Council will consider throwing its support behind a public works project that would replace a dam on the Sauk River.

The Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District wants to remove the current structure and install a series of rock arch rapids instead. Rock arch rapids help channel a river, acting like a staircase for fish.

Boulders are stretched across the waterway in a series of rows as the river gradually descends over the course of several hundred feet. The water flows over and through the new natural barriers, creating rapids that more closely resemble the original path of the river.

The rapids still help to direct the water without holding back thousands of gallons that could rush out uncontrolled if the levee were to break. Another benefit is that the rapids allow fish to head further upstream than they can now, giving them access to new spawning sites and improving the health of the species.

The state has provided funding for dozens of conversions in recent years as dams increasingly become older and carry more liability. Before asking for financial assistance, the local soil and water conservation district wants to get a pledge from the city in support of the project. Cold Spring City Council will gavel in Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.

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