Silver Lake dam modification project delayed until fall 2026

The City of Rochester, Minnesota, has postponed the start of its Silver Lake dam modification and sediment removal project, moving it from November 2025 to September 2026. The delay is due to extended permitting reviews at both state and federal levels. 

Federal review delays also stem from staffing shortages. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has reported that workforce reductions have significantly lengthened project review timelines, some taking three to four times longer than normal. 

City officials had originally favored a November 2025 start to take advantage of winter construction conditions, when lower river flows typically reduce costs and disruptions to businesses and recreational users. The revised fall 2026 schedule is expected to allow for a more efficient, less disruptive process. 

Current dam operations and flood control capacity will continue unchanged during the review delay. The city reports that pushing the project start date will not affect existing flood control functions.

Project Background & Goals

The Silver Lake Sediment Removal and Revitalization project consists of multiple components that address needs at Silver Lake: dredging, maintenance and safety concerns of the dam, creating trail connections around the lake, and installing a standalone pedestrian bridge. By integrating these components into a single project, advantageous conditions are created due to water elevations being lowered and active construction taking place at one time. Additionally, an integrated project would reduce maintenance costs and minimize risks.

The project would address the following needs at Silver Lake:

• Removal of approximately 200,000 cubic yards of sediment from Silver Lake in order to meet the Army Corps of Engineers requirements for flood channel capacity and improve Silver Lake depth • Increase recreational and environmental opportunities along the corridor
• Increase trail connectively around Silver Lake
• Provide pedestrian safety improvements
• Crossing the Broadway Avenue Bridge
• At grade crossing points for the Trail System
• Reduce long term maintenance and safety concerns with current dam

Project Components

Sediment Removal

Sediment removal in Silver Lake is needed to adhere to Army Corps of Engineers and flood channel capacity requirements. Silver Lake was last dredged 30 years ago. In order to maintain the hydraulic profile of the channel and the effectiveness of the flood control system, 200,000 cubic yards of material will be removed and deposited at a reservoir site eight miles west of Rochester. This component is scheduled for 2023 and will require the lowering of Silver Lake for removal of sediment.

Proposed Pedestrian Bridge

The current pedestrian crossing at Broadway Avenue varies from 6 feet wide to 8 feet wide. The ideal width for shared pedestrian and bicycle facilities on bridges is 12 feet. Significant work would need to be done to the existing bridge to provide adequate path facilities. The ideal bridge location is near where the existing dam is located. Pedestrian bridge options can be installed with or without the dam modifications, but dam modifications will allow trail improvements and embankments preparations for the future installation of a pedestrian bridge. Public input preferred the steel plate girder bridge.

Proposed Dam Modification

The original Silver Lake dam was built in 1937. Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) took ownership of the dam in 1951. The dam no longer served a purpose for RPU beginning in 2015 when they shut down the plant cooling system. The proposed modifications to the dam feature a 750 foot channel of cascading pools. This approach aligns with other efforts from Department of Natural Resources to restore water bodies to more natural pathways by removing traditional dams. The non-mechanical structure would maintain major flood elevations, allow Silver Lake to remain in place upstream, provide unobstructed passage for fish and aquatic animals, and increase recreational uses like canoeing and kayaking. Additionally, the proposed modification would lessen the risk of dam failure and remove the spillway drowning hazard.

North Trail Extension

The trail on the north side of Silver Lake was included in the 2016 Park Master Plan to address a gap in the trail network. The city currently owns property above the current Silver Lake water elevation to construct the majority of the trail. The proposed dam modifications would allow the trail to be constructed at a lower elevation closer to the water, which places it further away from the abutting properties. A trail under the Broadway Bridge would improve pedestrian safety as it would allow users to avoid vehicular traffic. 

Learn more about the project online.