Army Corps Of Engineers Drawing Down Reservoirs

ST. PAUL  (AP) -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is drawing down four of its reservoirs in the Red River watershed to prepare for the flood battle ahead.

There's normally no drawdown for Mud Lake, which is downstream of Lake Traverse, near Wheaton. But the Corps is lowering by two feet so it can hold more snowmelt.

Lake Traverse is already down two feet from its usual level, and the Corps plans to lower it another foot by the end of the month.

The Corps will begin its final drawdown at Homme Reservoir, near Park River, N.D., on March 1, following a partial drawdown last November.

Orwell Reservoir, near Fergus Falls, is targeted to reach its maximum drawdown by March 18. It's currently nine feet below its usual level with five feet remaining.

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