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PAUL, M.N. (NewsDakota.com) The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers started its annual winter draw down of eight of its North Dakota and Minnesota reservoirs.

The draw down of Lake Ashtabula began in October. A Corps spokeswoman Shannon Bauer says the goal is to reach an elevation 1,262.5 feet by the end of February.

She says the snow water content in the basin will be monitored this winter and changes to the target draw down date may be changed. Bauer says the maximum draw down of Lake Ashtabula is 1,255 feet if necessary depending on spring melt conditions in 2014.