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Dam breaks under pressure, drains lake near Two Harbors
The 100-year-old Sullivan Lake Dam broke under pressure after last week’s torrential rains, dropping the lake level 5 to 6 feet.
LAKE COUNTY, Minnesota — The headlines have been filled in recent days with news of rivers and lakes across parts of Minnesota that are busting at the seams due to a multi-day deluge of rain.
This story is about a body of water that is literally disappearing.
Sullivan Lake is located just north of Two Harbors in Lake County, near the St. Louis County border. It has dropped some 5 to 6 feet since the catastrophic storm last Tuesday that broke the 124-year-old dam that maintains its level. Pressure from rain that totaled up to 10 inches in some areas of the northland blew an opening in the Sullivan Lake Dam, which is approximately 8 feet deep and 35 feet wide, according to Two Harbors Area Parks and Trails supervisor Kevin Johnson.
“The dam is old, it’s over 100 years old,” Johnson told Northern News Now. “It’s seen a little bit of maintenance over the years. It was an earthen structure, that back in 1905, wasn’t designed by say an engineer.”
Johnson says the break in the Sullivan Lake Dam sent a surge of water flowing freely into Sullivan Creek, and eventually the Cloquet River. While folks on Sullivan are high and dry, virtually drained of water, communities along the Cloquet River experienced flooding.
“There’s also some cabins around the lake and that connects directly to the Cloquet River. On Island Lake we saw the water levels come up about 15 feet,” he explained.
To be honest, Sullivan is not a classic deep, clear lake. It is only 45 acres with a muddy bottom and maximum depth of about 7 feet, but those with property on it or users of the State of Minnesota’s Sullivan Lake Campground enjoy its presence.
Johnson said the dam is on land managed by the U.S. Forest Service, which released a statement when asked if the dam would be repaired.
“We are assessing the situation. The Sullivan Lake Dam is an old 7-foot high logging dam built in the early 1900s,” reads the USFS statement. “The dam failed as a result of last week’s storm without risk to downstream property owners. It is presently occupying it’s pre-dam channel. The Forest Service last inspected in 2017, it’s a low hazard dam which needs to be inspected every 10 years.”
A USFS spokesperson told the Star Tribune there are really two options: Rebuild the dam and allow Sullivan Lake to fill back up, or let it remain in its natural state, which is a channel or reservoir.
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A portion of the proceeds will go toward the nonprofit dedicated to caring and treating raptors.
MINNEAPOLIS — A new beer collaboration between HeadFlyer Brewing and the University of Minnesota’s Raptor Center is raising funds for bird conservation.
The limited-edition brew “Escalating Falcon” is part of the Raptor Center’s 50th anniversary celebration. Two percent of the proceeds from beer sales will support the center’s work.
On Saturday, attendees had the opportunity to sample the new beer and meet some of the center’s ambassador birds at the Northeast brewery.
“I think it works because of the community. This is a place where people normally gather together anyway, so it’s a great opportunity to know more about the Raptor Center,” Lori Arent, interim director of the Raptor Center, said.
The Raptor Center admits approximately 1,000 birds of prey to their specialized hospital each year, aiming to rehabilitate and release them back into the wild.
“The center serves birds from all over Minnesota,” said Arent.
The “Escalating Falcon” will be sold for a limited time at HeadFlyer Brewing.
Arent considers the celebration the beginning of their Give to the Max Day season. If you are interested in donating, visit their website.
ST PAUL, Minn. — Investigators are trying to find out what led up to a 14-year-old boy being shot in St. Paul on Saturday.
Authorities told KARE 11 officers were called to the 1900 block of Wilson Avenue just before 12:30 p.m. There they found the teen with a gunshot wound.
The teen was taken to Regions Hospital with injuries officials described as “non-life-threatening.”
No one has been arrested yet, police said, and the investigation is ongoing.
Kendama is a traditional Japanese skill toy consisting of a handle (ken), a pair of cups (sarado), and a ball (tama) that are all connected by a string.
PLYMOUTH, Minn. — Hundreds of people from around the world are in Minnesota this weekend to compete in North America’s largest kendama tournament.
Kendama is a traditional Japanese skill toy consisting of a handle (ken), a pair of cups (sarado), and a ball (tama) that are all connected by a string.
The North American Kendama Open (NAKO) is Nov. 15 -17 at the Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West Hotel in Plymouth. It’s become popular in part due to a Minneapolis-based company, Sweets Kendamas, and the company’s owner, Matt “Sweets” Jorgenson.
Sweets Kendamas hosts the nation’s largest kendama competitions and sells the toys at Target stores nationwide.
In partnership with the nonprofit Mindfulness Through Play, it also operates 12 kendama clubs at afterschool programs across the Twin Cities.
Besides the competition, NAKO will feature music, merchandise, workshops, video premiers and an award show.
Tickets are $60 for the weekend or $25/day.
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