Home / Environment / Lake Mitchell Drawdown Timeline Set for Fall Construction
Lake Mitchell Drawdown Timeline Set for Fall Construction
30 May
Summary
- New timeline targets final design in June and construction from October through December.
- Project aims to mitigate algae bloom risks and requires a hole in the spillway.
- The $16.7 million State Revolving Fund loan was awarded in January 2025.
A revised timeline has been set for the Lake Mitchell drawdown, with construction anticipated between October and December. This phase includes creating a 20-foot opening in the Lake Mitchell spillway. The project is a critical step toward restoring the lake, which frequently faces algae bloom warnings.
Friends of Firesteel, a volunteer group, is actively fundraising for the cleanup efforts, having raised approximately $2 million of their $3 million goal. The drawdown must precede the dredging phase. The timeline was accelerated after the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) placed permits on hold in September 2025, requiring a flood study and updated emergency plans.
Barr Engineering is managing the design, permitting, and construction oversight. Permitting is expected to take 78 days. The city has secured a $16.7 million State Revolving Fund loan, awarded in January 2025, to support the restoration. Officials are working to compress the timeline to expedite the process and avoid unnecessary delays.
The project received a variance permit from DANR for the spillway and earthen dam, allowing them to remain at a lower flood rating following a failed flood study. This variance comes with specific qualifications, including prior approval for dam modifications and updated annual emergency plans.
