'Totally Different River Landscape': Mississippi River In DT Minneapolis Being Drawn Down Temporarily

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis is being drawn down this week, revealing a landscape similar to how the river looked long ago.

According to the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area of the National Park Service, a short stretch of the river is being drawn down and is freely flowing through the Lower St. Anthony Dam. The drawdown allows for inspection and maintenance of locks and dams.

(credit: Mississippi National River and Recreation Area)

"In these images the water level was eight feet lower than usual, revealing a totally different river landscape. Rapids appeared beneath St. Anthony Falls, and a dramatic landscape of rock boulders, rapids, and sandbars emerged," the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area's Facebook post said.

(credit: Mississippi National River and Recreation Area)

Tuesday through Thursday, the river will be an additional four feet lower.

The Upper St. Anthony Lock will be open for this time, allowing people to more closely see the transformed landscape.

The modern Mississippi River is held behind dams that make it wider and deeper for more than a quarter of its length.

Read more
f

We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies.