Twin Cities locks and dams

Over the coming years, Twin Citians will face a momentous decision: Should we remove dams on the Mississippi River in Minneapolis and St. Paul?

FMR staff and River Guardians are actively engaged in this issue and others surrounding the locks and dams in the metro area.

An overview of this topic followed by updates are below.

Meet our Twin Cities locks and dams

update

September 14, 2022

See a map of our three Twin Cities locks and dams, a timeline of when and why they were built, and find out why we may not need them anymore. Read more

What we heard on this summer's lock and dam tours

by Colleen O'Connor Toberman

update

August 8, 2022

This summer, FMR and our partners talked with over 600 community members about the future of our Twin Cities locks and dams. We led more than than 20 focus-group tours that brought many people to the river in new ways. Here's what we heard. Read more

Join us for lock and dam focus group tours

by Colleen O'Connor Toberman

update

May 1, 2022

Learn more about the big study that will consider the future of two locks and dams in the heart of the Twin Cities. Read more

A photo showing the river almost emptied to the river bottom as part of a draw down by the Army Corps.

An update on the future of St. Anthony Falls

by Colleen O'Connor Toberman

update

February 4, 2022

There's a lot happening around St. Anthony Falls. Here's the latest on the Army Corps' disposition study, upcoming events about the future of the lock area, and that mysterious underwater wall. >>

Saving St. Anthony Falls (partner event)

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January 14, 2022

Dam removal brings "river giants" back to Minnesota waterways

by Colleen O'Connor Toberman

update

December 6, 2021

A recent Star Tribune article celebrated the return of paddlefish, sturgeon and other river species as a result of dam removal projects across the state. Could this kind of restoration be possible for the metro Mississippi? >>

'Do you think nature has surrendered to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers? I don't think so.'

by Colleen O'Connor Toberman

update

August 15, 2021

A little-known underground wall holds St. Anthony Falls back from a catastrophic collapse that would endanger the Twin Cities' water supply, bridges, and other infrastructure. So why isn't anyone monitoring the wall's condition? FMR board member John Anfinson explained the puzzle in an excellent Star Tribune article. >>