Montevideo Dam Removal

The Montevideo dam is located on the Chippewa River one mile upstream of the Minnesota River in Montevideo. The dam frequently prevents natural migrations by native aquatic organisms between upstream and downstream habitats. The dam has also caused degradation of upstream habitats by causing the channel to widen and sedimentation of riffles to occur. This project involves removal of the dam and partially replacing it with a constructed rock rapids. This will reconnect 12 miles of the Chippewa River up to the next major barrier which is the Watson-Sag diversion dam. The rock rapids is necessary to provide grade control because the river has been channelized downstream of the dam and would severely erode upstream without the rapids. The Montevideo dam frequently floods out during high flows and is not a barrier to Asian carp.