Effects of Rapidan Dam failure still felt in Blue Earth River, pollution control experts say

MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) - Thursday morning, local volunteers who collect samples from greater Mankato’s lakes, rivers and streams met with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to hear recent updates with the data they collected.

The agency’s volunteer co-coordinator, Waverly Reibel, said, “We measure this water clarity, and it can give us a good estimate of how much algae or sediments [are] in the water, which in turn can tell how much light can penetrate into the water, and whether it’s a healthy ecosystem.”

Eileen Campbell from the Pollution control agency said the flooding of 2024 caused the Rapidan Dam to fail, and the effects are still felt today.

“When that happened, there was a hundred years of sediment basically released downstream into the Blue Earth River,” Campbell said.

Campbell said that sediment affects life in and around the river.

She said, “There were a lot of fish congregated in very shallow pools and there was also a fish kill after the dam breach as well.”

Campbell says the future plans for fixing the issue is also murky at this time. “It’s kind of a waiting game to see how long it takes to flush all of that sediment out so that we can be able to really recreate and enjoy the Blue Earth river again,” she said.

Campbell and Reibel say the work of their water sampling volunteers will continue to help them work towards long term solutions for the Blue Earth River and all Minnesota bodies of water.

If you wish to become a water sample volunteer, more information is available here.

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