St. Paul, M.N. (USACE) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is delaying the annual draw down of Lake Ashtabula, behind Baldhill Dam, near Valley City to further assess drought conditions.

Each year, the Corps usually lowers Lake Ashtabula 3.5 feet from its normal pool elevation of 1,266 feet between Oct. 1 and March 1 to create room for the spring melt. Given the current drought conditions, the Corps will delay this draw down until at least Nov. 2 to assess the fall drought conditions and how it may influence spring runoff.

Baldhill Dam was completed in 1949 to primarily supply water to downstream communities including Fargo and Grand Forks during times of drought. During the past few decades, Baldhill Dam has primarily been used to reduce flooding downstream.