Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Roseau "Lake" Rehabilitation Project?
What is the Roseau "Lake" Rehabilitation Project?
What is the Roseau "Lake" Rehabilitation Project?
- A planned project by the Roseau River Watershed District (RRWD) and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to partially refill the Roseau Lake Basin
- The project would use a series of embankments and water control gates to hold water in the basin, creating a permanent marsh for waterfowl and minimal flood reduction several miles away downstream
- Thousands of acres of privately owned land would need to be taken in order to build the proposed embankments and easements
- At least one government attorney working on the project has noted that eminent domain could be used if owners are not willing to sell
- Officials continue to state that the project is “subject to change” but have selected 2A’ as their preferred alternative
- The Engineer’s Report states the project will be completed by 2022
How much land is at risk?
What is the Roseau "Lake" Rehabilitation Project?
What is the Roseau "Lake" Rehabilitation Project?
- The eminent domain threat affects 291 acres bordering the basin for the dikes and 2,930 acres for water easements, according to Alternative 2A’
- Some of this land is routinely flooded and unused, but the majority is currently productive farmland that can earn up to $500 per harvested acre per year
- Thousands more acres are at risk of increased flooding, since holding water in the basin and preventing it from emptying could quickly cause new runoff to overrun the planned embankments
- According to an outside engineer who reviewed the Watershed District’s plan: “…this project could deem several thousand acres unfarmable due to the increased risk of submergence due to the flood control, cutoff of access for farming equipment, and/or blockage of drainage.”
- Existing farms around the basin have learned how to make their land productive, and the normal rate of flooding that occurs replenishes nutrients in the soil, providing high-yield crops
Will the project reduce flooding?
What is the Roseau "Lake" Rehabilitation Project?
Will the project reduce flooding?
- The Watershed District’s own engineering report admits that the project will do nothing to reduce the threat or damage of larger (“5 year”) flood events, which will quickly overrun the planned embankments
- The Watershed District’s engineering report estimates a downstream flood reduction benefit of less than 246 acres, less private land than they want to take for embankments, and a fraction of the productive farmland they risk destroying from increased flooding in the basin area
- The outside engineer found the flood control benefit is minimal with only 300 acres of flood area reduction (or 5% of the pre-project flooded area)
How much will this project cost?
Will the project benefit wildlife or provide recreational activities?
Will the project reduce flooding?
- The Watershed District’s engineering report estimates their preferred option for completing the project will cost just over $15 million
- The outside engineer who reviewed that report estimates the actual cost will be more than $20 million
Will the project benefit wildlife or provide recreational activities?
Will the project benefit wildlife or provide recreational activities?
Will the project benefit wildlife or provide recreational activities?
- With 40% of lands in the watershed under public ownership, wildlife benefits are expected to be minimal given the abundance of existing lakes and wetland habitat in the surrounding area
- Current wildlife in the area, such as deer, will likely be displaced by the project
- The proposed “lake” will be too shallow for fishing, boating or most recreational activity typically associated with a “lake”
Who is the Institute for Justice?
Will the project benefit wildlife or provide recreational activities?
Will the project benefit wildlife or provide recreational activities?
- A nonprofit, public interest law firm, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, with an office in Minneapolis and dedicated to stopping the abuse of eminent domain
- Represented Susette Kelo and her neighbors before the U.S. Supreme Court in Kelo v. City of New London and helped save over 20,000 homes and small businesses from eminent domain abuse through grassroots activism
History of the Roseau "Lake" Rehabilitation Project
The Roseau River Watershed District (RRWD) was formed in 1963 to manage the waters of Roseau County and its surrounding area. The agency has been studying the Roseau Lake Basin for decades to reduce chronic flooding in the region. The original Roseau Lake was drained in 1914 for agricultural purposes. But, RRWD claims that the area consistently floods, leading to losses of crops and decreased biodiversity among wildlife.
The Roseau Lake Rehabilitation Project was re-born in 2014 from this concern to reduce flood damage and improve habitats for wildlife. RRWD plans to build embankments and control structures along the Roseau River to help with flood storage in the Roseau Lake Basin. To date, the project was set to start construction in 2020, however, no construction has begun. The project site appears to have not been updated since mid-2016, despite project planning continuing to this year.
Project goals were rearticulated in a June 2019 Engineer’s Report with a similar emphasis on reducing flooding, improving conditions for wildlife, and preventing loss of crops for farmers. Most of the land in Roseau lake is owned and managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). DNR has made attempts in the past to move forward with the project, but all previous attempts inevitably stalled from lack of funding or sustained interest.
Agencies Involved
- Roseau River Watershed District (RRWD) – Manages the watershed around the Roseau River in Roseau County. RRWD is the primary entity behind the project. Board members are not experts in hydrology but wield tremendous power when it comes to decision-making—including about the futures and livelihoods of these 50 farmers.
- Red River Watershed Management Board (RRWM) – Holds the real power behind the project. The RRWMB has several jurisdictions under its management that have membership on its board, including Roseau River Watershed District. They have reportedly been told to not speak to outside counsel about the project.
- Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council – The funders of the project, based in Minneapolis. The Council was established by the state legislature to provide annual funding recommendations to the legislature from the Outdoor Heritage Fund. This is one of several funds created by Minnesota State clean water legislation that seeks to restore, protect, and enhance Minnesota wetlands.
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) – Manages and protects state land and water. Also provides outdoor recreation opportunities. The agency owns significant land in northern Minnesota, including much of the land in the proposed project area.
History of the Project
- April 2014 – Project restarted
- Fall 2015 – Topographic survey completed
- October 2015-May 2016 – Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council recommended $2.76 million for the project, which was signed into law by the governor
- December 2015 – Concept Report completed
- January 2016 – Red Board Step 1 approved
- June 2016 – First public meeting held
- June 2016 – Preliminary engineer’s report released
- April 2017 – Red Board Step 2 approved
- June 2019 – Second engineer’s report released