Usually placid Lake Byllesby will be a hopping spot for construction in the coming years, with upgrades to the hydroelectric dam and a pedestrian bridge over the Cannon River in the works.
Together, the projects aim to improve safety and accessibility for park visitors and those who live nearby and downstream. Here's a look at the plans:
Byllesby Dam
The century-old Byllesby Dam still does its job, but federal regulators have said it needs to be beefed up to withstand a probable maximum flood -- a deluge never yet recorded that would require 16 inches of rain over 100 square miles in six hours.
Dakota County, which owns the dam, has been drafting plans to add to the spillway and build a perimeter dike along the northeastern side of Gerlach Way.
The spillway upgrade -- basically a new concrete apron with additional gates on the southern end of the dam -- will make it easier for the dam to release large amounts of water when necessary. The dike, an earthen berm about two feet high, will prevent water from spilling out of the lake onto nearby fields during a major flood.
The projects are expected to cost about $5.8 million, with construction starting in 2012 and continuing into 2013.
Trail bridge
