City of Rochester, MN
09/19/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/19/2025 13:07
Timeline Shift for Silver Lake Dam Modification and Sediment Removal Project
September 19, 2025 - ROCHESTER, MINN - Due to state and federal permitting delays, the City of Rochester will shift the start of the Silver Lake Dam Modification and Sediment Removal Project from November 2025 to September 2026.
State and federal permitting agencies need more time to complete their reviews and public notice processes. As a result, the project will not meet the original timeline for construction bidding or final City Council approval.
The delay is largely due to the project's recreational wave pool feature, which is the first of its kind in Minnesota. Because of its unique nature, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) is taking additional time to carefully review the design. The MN DNR is also considering this project as a potential model for similar projects in other communities across the state.
Additionally, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is dealing with ongoing staffing shortages which have led to extended review times.
The original November 2025 start date was chosen to take advantage of optimal winter construction conditions, when lower river flows help reduce costs and minimize disruption to nearby businesses and recreational users. Starting the project later in the winter would shorten the construction window, increase costs and cause greater impacts on the surrounding area. Delaying construction to fall 2026 ensures a more cost-effective and less disruptive process.
The revised schedule will still meet all grant funding deadlines and does not impact current dam operations or capacity of the flood control system. The project will continue to move through the review process with both the MN DNR and USACE and the City will provide updates as permits are secured and the project moves towards bidding and final council decision in 2026.
For more information, updates will be posted on the Silver Lake Dam Modification and Sediment Removal Project website and shared through public channels as the project progresses.
City of Rochester, MN published this content on September 19, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 19, 2025 at 19:07 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]