Calhoun Lake Public Access Closed During Bridge Project

The bridge leading to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ Calhoun Lake Public Water Access in Kandiyohi County will be closed for about 10 weeks, starting September 15th, for improvements. The project, funded by Get Out MORE dollars, will widen the bridge and ensure its structural integrity.

A pedestrian crossing will also be added, which will offer a better and safer location for shore fishing in the channel that runs under the bridge. Construction is expected to take approximately 10 weeks, and the public water access will be inaccessible while the bridge is closed. The project is a partnership between the DNR, along with support from a private landowner, Middle Fork Crow River Association, Kandiyohi County, Calhoun Lake Association, and Green Lake Property Owners Association.

The bridge runs over the Crow River diversion channel. Below the bridge, an existing low-head dam and a newly added rock arch rapids — a series of large boulders arranged to mimic natural rapids — are also part of this project to help regulate water flow and maintain water levels across the Dietrich Lange Wildlife Management Area and in Green Lake. These improvements will also enhance fish passage and recreational opportunities.

Just northeast of the bridge site is the Calhoun Lake outlet, where another low-head dam was replaced with a rock arch rapids in the fall of 2025.

Also, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, in coordination with the Middle Fork Crow River Watershed District and other partners, will begin a planned drawdown this fall of Hubbard, Schultz and Wheeler lakes in Kandiyohi County near Atwater. The drawdown is expected to begin no later than September 15th and might continue for one to two years, depending on how the lakes respond. Water levels will be lowered to 5 or 6 feet and there will be very little water in the basins as the drawdown target is reached and maintained.

Water level management is used to support healthy aquatic habitat, improve water quality and enhance the overall ecological function of the lake system. Downstream waters, including Diamond Lake, may also benefit from these improvements.