Silver Lake Dam Modification Clears Rochester Vote

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A project to replace the Silver Lake Dam and to implement other changes to the waterway has cleared its final government hurdle.

The plans call for replacing the Silver Lake Dam with a series of cascading pools, modifying the lake’s southern shore line and dredging the lake.

Crews will also be installing a pedestrian/biking bridge pier east of North Broadway Ave. and adding a biking/walking path along the north shore of the lake.

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Rochester City Council Votes 6-1 to Award $18.9 Million Contract for Silver Lake Dam Modification Project

The Rochester City Council voted 6-1 Monday night to award a $18,937,132.74 contract to St. Michael, MN-based Rachel Contracting, LLC to make the modifications.

Councilmember Andy Friederichs was the lone nay vote.

Monday night’s agenda item indicates the work is scheduled to start on Monday, October 12.

The project was originally scheduled to begin last year but was held up by state and federal permitting delays, which forced the City of Rochester to cancel its effort to obtain bids.

Costs of Silver Lake Dam Modification Project

An estimate provided to the Rochester City Council last year indicated the modification work would cost $15.1 million. A new estimate given prior to Monday night’s vote gave the project a $20,988,366.05 price tag.

Funding for the project is made up of $2.68 million in state funding, $3,009,727 in funds from Rochester Public Utilities, $11,092,877.57 from the 1982 and 1989 Flood Control Funds and $4,327,828.98 from the Stormwater Utility.

Earlier this year, a Heritage Preservation Commission Decision to grant the project a Certificate of Appropriateness was appealed by two members of the community group Friends of Silver Lake.

The Rochester City Council voted to reject the appeal on a 5-1 vote.