Hunter Lake Flooding Affects Residents

HUNTER LAKE, Minn. — With events this devastating, there are a number of ways people can be impacted. Craig Luack of Hunter Lake, near the Island Lake Reservoir is just one of many people experiencing the aftermath. It all happens so fast.

“So, it’s not a wall of water, it’s a gradual rise. But it’s fast enough that you’re really scrambling to get everything up on blocks up in the air. Out of the area completely.” Luack said.

There have been major impacts from this recent storm. Luack hopes things will get better soon.

“We’ll be able to drive in and out I believe within the next three days with some level of certainty.” Luack said

The level of flooding was completely unexpected for Luack.

“No one anticipated it was gonna keep getting this high.” Luack explained,”

The aftermath of this recent storm is still in effect.

“So, there’s an eight-foot rise in the river right now at this point.” said Luack.

Luack says, the flooding related with the Island Lake Dam has been a problem for the area for decades.

“And the difference like between the 2012 flood when they had an old dam that couldn’t handle the water flow, and now, when they’ve rebuilt it.” explained Luack,

“You have to make the decision to use the equipment you got, timely.”

“By 2012, when the bad flood happened, and the gate blew open on that older antiquated dam, people were pretty frustrated.” said Luack

The dam was rebuilt in 2012 after the large flood took place. Luack was hoping for the problem to be solved. But he blames the most recent flooding on how levels were managed.

“All parties involved should’ve done their job. Not just Minnesota Power, but the federal government is supposed to managing this riverbank.” Luack continued.

Luack says Minnesota Power kept Hunter Lake levels too high.

“It was obvious there was significant rain coming. And that lake was over its target level by a foot. So, it was already almost to the brim of the dam.” said Luack.

Luack believes a better plan should’ve been in place.

Minnesota Power’s Amy Rutledge says initially, the Island Lake Reservoir was below target for the summer.

“Earlier, this summer there was a lot of concern about what a dry spring we were having. How we really had no winter Folks were worried about whether Island Lake Reservoir, was going to fill, in time for the summer refill target.”  said Rutledge.

But she says the recent storms brought a lot of water into the system upstream.

“There was nowhere for this water to go. The creeks, the rivers, the swamps and marshes, they’re already full.” said Rutledge

Rutledge says measures were taken before the storm.

“We took early steps as we began to see all of that water coming down upstream from the rain event.” said Rutledge.

“The water needed somewhere to go. So, we need to discharge that water from Island Lake Reservoir again, to maintain the safety and integrity of the dam.” said Rutledge.

Rutledge says, you can’t control Mother Nature, but frustration lingers.

“And so, some people left their cars, and I had to pull one out of a guy’s driveway in three feet of water, because he never believed it would get this extreme again.” said Luack.

“We understand some of the challenges our customers are facing. That we take steps to mitigate impacts as much as we can.” said Rutledge.

In the meantime, all residents can do is try to cope.

“I know my other neighbor next door to me sent his wife out, and said he’d stay in the home for the duration.” Luack said,

With events like this, there is so much in control, and out of control.