, 
The future of the Blue Mounds State Park water recreation hangs in the balance as park officials consider how to address the flood-ravaged dam that was destroyed in 2014.
An open meeting next week will allow the public to provide input on alternatives to restoring the site and to learn about issues surrounding the Blue Mounds State Park dam.
The meeting will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2, at the Luverne Elementary School. Public comments will also be taken via the DNR website until Feb. 15 at www.mndnr.gov/bluemounds.
“We plan to share our findings on the pros and cons from both rebuilding the dam and restoring the lake or removing it and restoring Mound Creek,” said Park Manager Chris Engebretsen.
“We’ll also be collecting public comments and will consider them when a final decision is made.”
Floodwaters overtopped the historic upper and lower dams at Blue Mounds State Park in June 2014 and eventually washed out the spillway of the lower dam. This created a breach approximately 100 feet across, draining Lower Mound Lake.
The park north of Luverne is known for its bison herd, 100-foot Sioux quartzite cliffs and sea of prairie grasses and flowers.
It’s a regional favorite for birdwatchers, campers and rock climbers, but its well-groomed beach and shallow lake was also an oasis for park visitors and local swimmers.
On hot summer days, local families often took day trips to the park to enjoy the sandy beach and shaded park benches. Kayaks and canoes could be rented from the park, or personal watercraft could be brought in.
Tim and Kayla Jarchow, Luverne, and their three boys were among regulars who frequented the state park lake when the dam was still intact.
“It was almost a regular event for us,” said Tim, who plans to attend Tuesday’s meeting. “Even in the middle of the week after a baseball game, we’d be hot and dirty and head up to the park and jump in the water to cool off.”
He said he knew of several other families who incorporated swimming into their frequent camping trips at the Blue Mounds.
“I won’t say that’s the only reason I went to the park, but it was definitely a strong pull,” he said. “I hardly think about going to the park anymore since the lake drained.”
Whether or how a water feature is restored at the Blue Mounds depends on consensus among the public and among state officials.
According to Dennis Frederickson, regional director for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), deciding the next steps for the dam and lake involves multiple considerations.
“Over the past year we have completed engineering studies, analyzed historic resource issues, identified potential economic and recreational impacts and conducted biological surveys,” Frederickson said.
“DNR officials also visited the area this summer and fall to hear local concerns. At the upcoming public meeting, we will share what we’ve learned about the impacts and alternatives to removing or rebuilding the dam.”
DNR staff will host informal mini-presentations and topic stations where attendees can learn more about specific topics, ask questions and provide written feedback.
Public comments from the open house and website will be considered by DNR officials in making a decision about how to repair or rehabilitate the dam site.
Information about Tuesday’s meeting can be found at www.mndnr.gov/bluemounds or by calling the park office at 507-283-6051.