Rock Dam Updates

The rock dam on the Big Pine River just south of Big Pine Lake came about as the result of low water levels experienced on Big Pine Lake year-over-year.  Big Pine Lake Association records indicate that members discussed taking action to this problem as far back as the 1950’s.  At that time, the west end of the lake in the vicinity of today’s Minnesota Department of Resources’ (DNR) public landing, was reportedly a meadow used for grazing cattle.  NOAA 1970 records show that this area was in a drought that was categorized as moderate (Palmer Drought Index).  Building the rock dam transformed what was wetland, meadow, and a small lake area, into what is now a beautiful nearly 400 acre lake that is classified by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources as a Biologically Significant Lake for Outstanding Plant Community.

Unfortunately, the rock dam’s design was flawed and the pipe installed to encourage fish passage was crushed, blocking upstream fish passage for the last 40+ years.  In order to restore fish passage and create a more habitat-friendly structure, BPLA has been working diligently for the better part of the last decade to design, permit, and fund a replacement structure that will reconnect Big Pine Lake and the upstream reach of the Pine River with the downstream reach of Pine River all the way to the confluence of the Mississippi River.