The History and Heritage Committee is looking for volunteers to help with the nomination of the Upper Mississippi Reservoir Dam System as a National Civil Engineering Historic Landmark. This reservoir system required the construction of the following dams in north central Minnesota.

Lake Winnibigoshish

Leech Lake

Pokegama Falls

Pine River

Sandy Lake

Gull Lake

It was the first reservoir system built in the United States for the purpose of flood control and navigation, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began planning it in 1869. The original wood-and-stone construction of the 6 dams occurred from 1881 to 1896. Within 20 years, each of the wood-and-stone structures was replaced with concrete, and the concrete dams remain in operation today.

The Upper Mississippi Reservoir Dam System preceded the “9-Foot Channel Project” that resulted in the construction of 29 locks and dams along the Mississippi River between St. Paul and St. Louis (constructed from 1927 to 1940).

To see previously nominated landmarks visit https://ascemn.org/historical-civil-landmarks.

Please contact A.J. Schwidder at history@ascemn.org if you are interested in helping with this nomination effort.