Latest news with #SaraBerhow
The Independent
12-08-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
‘I just don't know how it happens': Minnesota lake nearly entirely drained after ‘mechanical issue'
A lake near the Twin Cities has reportedly been completely drained due to a "mechanical issue." Local officials are working to restore Alice Lake in William O'Brien State Park back to its typical depth of nine-feet deep after it was accidentally drained. Recent rainstorms in the area flooded the lake, causing its waters to spill over into the nearby St Croix River. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources workers opened a valve allowing some of the excess water to flow out, but that valve was left open and nearly the entire lake drained. "When the water level was back to what it should be, the staff attempted to close that valve, but the mechanism that closes that valve was not functioning, and the valve could not be closed," Sara Berhow of the state's Parks & Trails agency told CBS News. Berhow said that state workers are fixing the water control structure that malfunctioned and will restore the lake to its previous state. "Once the valve is able to be closed again, the streams will replenish the water in the lakes, so it will naturally come back to the level," she said. According to the state's Parks and Trails department, once the valve has been repaired it will take approximately a month before the lake returns to normal levels. Seeing the lake in its current state — empty — was a shock to local residents. "It's crazy, for this to happen, I just don't know how it happens," one resident, Dane Zierman, told the broadcaster. "It's insane. You just start driving down, and you see all these weeds and there's just no water." Unfortunately, many of the lake's fish didn't survive the ordeal. When locals approach to shoreline, they are met with a field of dead fish where water once was. "As soon as you get on the dock, you just see all of these dead fish. There's some big guys in here, too, some big giant carp, some big northerns, it's just devastating," Zierman said.
CBS News
11-08-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Alice Lake in William O'Brien State Park drained due to "mechanical issue," DNR says
Officials are working to restore a lake northeast of the Twin Cities after a "mechanical issue" caused nearly all the water to drain. Lake Alice in William O'Brien State Park is typically 9 feet deep and stretches 26 acres, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. However recent rains caused the water level to rise and flow over into the St. Croix River. The department said staff were working to drain some of the excess water from the lake but an issue with its "water control structure" caused it to drain almost completely. "Due to a mechanical issue, the control structure valve is stuck open, which has caused the lake to drain to much lower levels," said DNR spokesperson Sara Berhow. Berhow added that staff are working on next steps to "repair the control structure and restore the lake." Lake Alice is known for its wide variety of fish. The DNR says anglers can find bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pikes and walleyes among other varieties. WCCO crews however saw fish dying in the drained lake. This is a developing story and will be updated.
