Info Sessions This Month for Controversial Rochester Project

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The City of Rochester has set dates for information sessions regarding a project that some members of the community are mobilizing to stop.

Read More: Funding for Silver Lake Dam Replacement in Bill Sent to Governor

The group held a demonstration prior to a recent meeting of the Rochester City Council then spoke during the meeting.

The project has an estimated price tag of about $5.5 million. It's earmarked for $2.4 million in state funding through a bill passed by the Minnesota House and Minnesota Senate.

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The meetings are to provide the community with more information regarding a project to replace the nearly 90-year-old Silver Lake Dam.

What Does the Silver Lake Dam Replacement Proposal Look Like?

The current concept plan calls for removing the existing dam and replacing it with a fixed dam that features water channels feeding a series of cascading ponds.

Silver Lake conceptual plan. City of Rochester

Supporters of the proposal say it would benefit wildlife and create new recreational opportunities for Rochester area residents.

City of Rochester

Those could include kayaking using the water channels and ponds that would be included with the proposed fixed dam. The concept drawings developed by the city of Rochester also depict extensions of the recreational trails that currently circle Silver Lake.

Info Sessions on Silver Lake Dam Replacement Project Announced

City officials plan to share more information regarding the project next month. An in person-information session is scheduled from 6-7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 5 at Heintz Commons at the RCTC Heintz Center Campus, 1926 Collegeview Rd. Southeast.

A virtual session is set for June 10 from noon-1 p.m. A link to the session has not yet been posted. The project's website is available by clicking here.

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