(Blue Earth County) – At today’s Blue Earth County Board of Commissioners meeting, the County Board approved a resolution directing staff to do the following:

• Pursue removal and replacement of the CSAH 9 bridge with funding provided by the Federal Highway Administration Emergency Relief accounts and MnDOT disaster assistance accounts. 
• Work with FEMA on Alternate or Alternative Procedures Projects including removal of the Rapidan Dam. 
• Work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to restore the Blue Earth River in a river channel established post dam removal and seek federal and state funding assistance for the river restoration.

Since the natural disaster incident on June 24, 2024, Blue Earth County staff have been assessing the condition and safety of the CSAH 9 bridge and the Rapidan Dam.  Staff continue to work with representatives from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on issues regarding the CSAH 9 bridge and the Rapidan Dam.

The Rapidan Dam was built in 1910 and provided hydroelectric power generation to the region until it was damaged by the largest flood on record in 1965.  Northern States Power Company owned the dam until 1970 when Blue Earth County agreed to take ownership.  Under an agreement with Rapidan Redevelopment Ltd., the dam began producing hydroelectric power again in 1984 after extensive repairs and powerhouse modifications. 

In 2002 emergency repairs were needed to address extensive undermining of the dam’s foundation.  Additional repairs and mitigation efforts to the dam apron, foundation, concrete filling of gates, and abutments were completed in 2010 and 2017.  The dam was again damaged by severe flooding in 2019 and 2020.  The 2019 flooding damaged the Tainter gates, training wall and apron.  Since 2019, the dam has operated as a run of river only.  The 2020 frazil ice dam damaged the powerhouse to the point hydroelectric power generation ceased.

Two feasibility studies were commissioned by Blue Earth County in 2021.  One study was on an option to repair the Rapidan Dam, the other study was on the removal of the Rapidan Dam.  The estimated cost for the repair was $15 Million and for the removal the estimated cost was $82 Million which included the cost of a new bridge.

In 2022, Blue Earth County conducted a robust public outreach campaign seeking public feedback on the feasibility of studies.  Feedback was received both in favor of repair and of removal of the dam.

At that time, analysis showed that from 1999-2022 Blue Earth County spent $6,766,703 on repairs and maintenance of the dam.  That is $554,251 more than it received in revenue.  Federal and State assistance totaled $5,546,248 and hydroelectric generation revenue received equaled $666,203 during this period.

In 2023, the Board instructed staff to seek FERC licensure surrender.  An application to FERC was submitted on April 14, 2023, but the surrender process remains incomplete as of this date.  On May 21, 2024, FERC performed an annual Dam Safety Inspection.  The FERC provided a follow up letter stating that all project structures were found to be in overall satisfactory condition with no major dam safety deficiencies requiring immediate remedial action.  Routine safety monitoring by the County continued as required under our license.

In the early morning hours of Monday June 24, 2024, the Blue Earth River overtopped the Rapidan Dam and subsequently eroded and cut a new channel around the west abutment of the dam.

On July 30, 2024, a publicly noticed Board work session was held with representatives from the USACE and MnDOT.  Information was provided to the County Board at that time regarding support and funding options USACE could assist with if the County Board wished to move ahead with a river restoration.  Information was also shared by MnDOT on Emergency Relief funding available from the Federal Highway Administration and MnDOT for the repair or replacement of the CSAH 9 bridge.

On August 13, 2024, another publicly noticed Board work session was held with a representative from Homeland Security Emergency Management (also representing FEMA) where information was shared with the County Board on support and funding options available to Blue Earth County.  The focus of the presentation was on FEMA funding being available to bring the dam back to a pre-disaster condition or to have the County Board consider Alternate or Alternative Procedures Projects whereby use of FEMA funds could be used for alternatives other than returning the dam to pre-disaster conditions.  FEMA requirements for the Alternate and Alternative Procedures state that if the applicant does not repair, replace, or sell the damaged facility for which the capped funding was based, and that facility is unsafe if not repaired, the Applicant must render the facility safe and secure or demolish it.

The County appreciates the partnerships with, and assistance from, FEMA, USACE, FERC, MnDOT and DNR and the dedicated staff and contractors who have assisted with the situation. 

A complete recording of the August 27, 2024 Blue Earth County Board of Commissioners meeting can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuatSfw3_YQ.

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(ABC 6 News) – On Tuesday Morning, the Blue Earth County Board of Commissioners voted to remove the historic Rapidan Dam.

The dam failed on June 24 of this year after heavy rainfall.

The damn removal with be done with assistance from FEMA and is part of a plan including removing the CSAH 9 Bridge with funding from Federal Highway Emergency Accounts. Blue Earth County officials will also work with the US Army core of engineers to restore the Blue Earth River after the dam removal.

PREVIOUS STORY: UPDATE: Monitoring continues at Rapidan Dam – ABC 6 News – kaaltv.com

The county will be seeking both state and federal funding assistance to help restore the river.

The board also thanked city, state, county and federal officials for their help during the dam’s failure.

District 2 Commissioner Vance Stuehrenberg requested local officials work alongside experts to help improve recreation facilities along the Blue Earth River, once the dam is removal is complete.