Friends of the Falls Requests You Respond to Army Corps Recommendation for Upper Lock!

Via a February 19 e-announcment from Friends of the Falls:

Army Corps Accepts Comments on Upper Lock Disposition

The Upper Lock at Owámniyomni, St. Anthony Falls, was closed to commercial navigation in 2015. Since then, Friends of the Falls has been working to secure the site for public use. We're partnering with the Native American Community Development Institute to build relationships with the Indigenous community and shape an engagement process centered on Native voices. Kare11 recently ran a piece on our approach and progress. The Lock is still a crucial piece of infrastructure for our city and region. Over 1 million Twin Cities residents and businesses depend on the Mississippi River and on the reservoir created by the dams at St. Anthony Falls for their water supply.   Last month the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the current owner of the Lock) formally recommended that the federal government seek a new owner for the structure. The Corps is trying to abandon the property, including the cost of maintenance and responsibility for flood management.   If the Corps were to walk away, the threat to our community's basic infrastructure would be catastrophic.    The Army Corps is accepting comments on its proposal through March 18. We have one month to urge the Army Corps to change its recommendation.  We're advocating for the Army Corps to keep the Lock structure and flood operations, but release surrounding property to the City of Minneapolis or another entity for recreational use and public river access.   There are two ways to submit a response to the Army Corps before March 18.

OPTION 1 Add your signature to our sign-on letter calling on the Army Corps to maintain their ownership and management responsibilities at the Lock.

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OPTION 2 Download our template to draft your own letter and email it to the Army Corps at MplsLocksDisposition@usace.army.mil . In your letter: 1. Urge the Army Corps of Engineers to maintain ownership and maintenance of the Lock. 2. Support the quick transfer of "excess" land surrounding the Lock for recreational use. 3. Write openly and from the heart, reflecting your opinion of the future of the Upper Lock.

Download Template