History of Whetstone River Diversion Project Citizens for Big Stone Lake The following information is from the Upper Min- Board of Directors nesota Watershed website: www.umrwd.org . The Whetstone River begins in the Coteau des Charles Moeller Ortonville, MN Prairies region in South Dakota, is approximately Dennis Kusube Big Stone City, SD FROM CBSL 35 miles long originally flowing into the Minnesota River but now flows into Big Stone Lake just Roger Sandburg Ortonville, MN upstream from the Big Stone Lake dam. It has a Jeff Nodsle Hartford Beach, SD WHETSTONE very steep watershed of about 1000 feet from Bob Johnson Wilmot, SD headwaters to outlet. The original Big Stone Lake Pat Karels Big Stone City, SD RIVER – Whetstone River project was undertaken by the Bill Randell Browns Valley, MN State of Minnesota in the mid-1930’s as a measure RESTORATION to restore lake levels which had receded during Jerry Backus Wilmot, SD the period of drought. Mark Fuller Ortonville, MN PROJECT A stop log structure was constructed, in part William Rois Wilmot, SD UNDERWAY with Federal Emergency Relief Funds, just down- Vernon Lund Big Stone City, SD stream of the outlet of the lake. In addition, the Whetstone River was diverted to discharge into the Minnesota River between the lake outlet and Alternate Directors the control structure. The project was also Mary Homan Ortonville, MN planned to serve flood control by storing surplus Roland Karels Big Stone City, SD flood waters in the lake and discharging regulated Details and map flows from the lake after flood conditions had sub- Lana Sand Rosholt, SD sided. However, the State of Minnesota was una- Don Sherman, Ortonville, MN inside ble to acquire the necessary flowage rights on Big Stone Lake and through court action was required to pay claims for damage brought about by stor- age of flood flows in the lake. Therefore, in 1947, Citizens for Big Stone Lake is a nonprofit the State ceased any attempts to regulate levels organization dedicated to improving the Citizens for on Big Stone Lake. Local interests then claimed water quality of the lake and promoting Big Stone Lake that the project had resulted in acceleration of silt the Big Stone Lake area. The board of deposition in the lower end of Big Stone Lake and directors meets the second Monday of “Our mission is to encourage and with no operation of the stop-log control structure each month in the basement of the still caused undesirably high lake levels without Ortonville Public Library at 7:00 pm. promote the preservation and adequately providing for maintenance of lake lev- restoration of Big Stone Lake by els during drought periods. Recent hydrologic working together to prevent, analysis shows that the Whetstone contributes a greater portion of runoff to Big Stone Lake during control and abate water pollution” flood conditions than does the upstream Little Minnesota River. Website: www.c4bsl.org Whetstone River Restoration Project Details With a project the size of the Whetstone River Restoration, a study needs to be done before any plans can be put into action. The study itself is a costly measure but enough monies were donated and raised through CBSL, Upper Minnesota Watershed District, East Dakota Water Development District (SD), surrounding County Governments and the City of Ortonville to hire an independent firm to conduct the study. A study done through the Corps of Engineers could have been years in coming due to a backlog of pro- jects plus questionable government funding, so in a grassroots effort, these groups came forward with funds resulting in this first important step in the restoration process. This project will have a positive impact on the lake in reducing potential flooding and decreasing the amount of silt and phosphates coming into the lake which should aid in improving water clarity. The study should be completed by the end of April, 2014 after which the Upper Minne- sota River Watershed District will hold a pub- lic hearing to present different options for the restoration of the Whetstone and Minnesota River channels. After an option is approved by the UMRWD Board of Managers, they will seek to secure grant funds to proceed with final designs and construction. Local fundraising will also be a part of this exciting Map showing the current diversion channel of the Whetstone River coming into Big project for the betterment of Big Stone Lake. Stone Lake (lake is to the north of the dam) and the proposed new structures at The UMRWD has also been working with the roadways to allow the Whetstone River back into its original channel. The public DNR Fisheries to ensure that their interests hearings outlining different restoration options will be held after the engineering with the project are addressed. study is completed in April, 2014. Please make plans to attend this important CBSL encourages everyone to attend its meeting leading to the improvement of beautiful Big Stone Lake. meetings held at 7:00 pm on the second Monday of each month in the basement of the Watch for details as to the date, place and time of the meeting. Ortonville library. .