Hugo aims for grant to fund lake outlet repair
HUGO — Last week the Hugo City Council received an update on the pursuit of funds to help repair the failing outlet structure on the north end of Bald Eagle Lake at 129th Street N. The structure required emergency repairs in June following a torrential rainstorm.Despite the presence of the city street on top of the five corrugated metal pipe culverts, which identifies it as a bridge, the structure also acts like a dam to impound water, City Engineer Jay Kennedy said at the Aug. 27 workshop. In addition to the biannual bridge inspections required by the state, the outlet is also periodically inspected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ dam inspector. Staff is preparing a grant application for funds earmarked by the DNR under its Dam Safety Program. Kennedy said he recently met with the inspector at the site.
Structure replacement is
estimated to cost just under $500,000. Approximately $250,000 has
already been set aside by MnDOT for that purpose. The DNR could elect to
fund all, part or none of the amount requested, Kennedy said.
Should the structure
fail, 1,000-acre Bald Eagle Lake would drop from 5 to 6 feet in
elevation, sending the water down Clearwater Creek toward Centerville.
The city has been working with the DNR and St. Paul Water Services to
try to identify the owner of the structure, which was likely built more
than a century ago and holds the lake level higher than where it would
otherwise be.
“Construction can proceed as soon as the project becomes fully funded,” Kennedy said.
The grant application is scheduled for council approval at its Sept. 16 meeting.
— Deb Barnes
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