Lake Alice in William O’Brien State Park, which virtually disappeared in August after a dam valve failed and the water drained into the St. Croix River, will remain empty until the fall of 2027, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources officials said Tuesday.
DNR officials plan to replace Lake Alice’s 65-year-old water-control structure, which manages water levels within the spring-fed, manmade lake in northern Washington County, by releasing water from the lake through a culvert into the St. Croix River.
“We determined a total replacement is the most cost-effective, sustainable and long-term solution for maintaining the park’s natural resources and recreation opportunities,” said Laurel Quill, the agency’s Central Region Parks and Trails manager.
The $325,000 project also includes dredging the St. Croix River at William O’Brien’s public-water access to remove sediment deposited around the access during the drawdown, she said.
Park staff in July partially opened the valve of the structure after heavy rain caused water levels to overflow the lake’s earthen dike, raising erosion concerns.
On Aug. 8, staff opened the valve further to address ongoing water-level concerns, DNR officials said. Having successfully addressed the high water levels, staff attempted to close the valve the following day.
“It was at this point that staff discovered the closure mechanism had failed and the valve was stuck open, resulting in the near total water-level drawdown,” DNR officials said at the time.
DNR officials plan this summer to apply for permits and undertake land and archaeological surveys, and other natural resource work field work. The water control structure construction and public-water access dredging is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2027; the project is expected to be completed in the fall of 2027, Quill said.
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Public recreation on Lake Alice will not be available until the project is completed.
The park’s public water access to the St. Croix at the Walter F. Mondale Day Use Area will be open, as water levels allow, throughout the year. Visitors should check the William O’Brien State Park (mndnr.gov/Obrien) website for updates before going to the park, Quill said.
“We’re thankful for the public’s continued patience as we tackle this challenge,” she said. “We look forward to welcoming visitors back to a Lake Alice that has a modernized infrastructure that makes the lake more resilient for the future.”
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