Ottertail council hears concerns on Otter Tail River
News | Published on July 29, 2025 at 4:03pm GMT+0000 | Author: Tucker Henderson
0By Chad Koenen
Publisher
To close a man made cut in the Otter Tail River or not to close—that was the question facing the Ottertail City Council after several property owners along the river expressed a concern over little-to-no water flow along the southern edge of the river.
During its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, July 17, the city council heard from a number of residents along the Otter Tail River over concerns of a lack of water flow on the southern portion of the river.
According to a letter signed by approximately 25 people and addressed to the city, the group cited a report created by an engineer that was engaged by the Otter Tail River Management Association, which showed approximately 80 percent of the flow of the river exits through the northern (man made) opening, while the remaining 20 percent of the flow exited via the southern (natural) opening. The engineer concluded that the only way to restore the natural flow of the river was to close the northern opening, thereby rectifying the situation.
Several property owners in attendance questioned the 80/20 percent numbers as they contended it was closer to 99 percent of the water going out the first cut while they said just one percent goes out the second cut in the river. The group said there was little water flowing down the river, which is creating standing water, as opposed to a natural river.
“The point is they are not getting any movement of water and that is a big concern,” said Ottertail Mayor Ron Grobeck.
The Ottertail mayor said there are really two options facing the property owners, either plug the first cut in the river, or dredge the river every few years.
“Do we go in and try to get support to plug the cut or do we go in and dredge it and do that every few years,” said Grobeck.
After hearing from several property owners concerning the lack of water flow along the end of the river, councilman Jerry Martin said he would be in favor of resolving the issue of water flow, however that may look.
“I’m in favor of resolving the problem and it seems like the city can’t resolve the problem the state has to,” said Martin.
A local resident who spoke on behalf of property owners said the city needs to help and push the State of Minnesota and the Minnesota DNR to find a solution to a lack of water flowing along the river downstream. The individual said a letter and request from the city to potentially close the man made cut along the river will have more of an impact than a letter/request from a group of properties owners.
“We need somebody from the City of Ottertail, the mayor and you guys to help us push to get this situation resolved,” said one property owner.
City clerk/treasurer Amanda Thorson said the city’s attorney advised the city council to refrain from taking action on the matter as it is a private/civil matter. In a letter to the council, the attorney said his understanding was the cut in the river was made in the 1870s and repaired in the 1960s. Thorson said closing the man made cut could also lead to a lawsuit from people who live above the man made cut as they would lose their right to exit the river through the man made cut.
“If you close that cut and you are going to have people who are upset, so that is something to prepare for (as) it could lawsuit after lawsuit,” said Thorson who added that she understands concerns from property owners both above and below the man made cut.
Given the advice of the city’s attorney, Martin said he would suggest sending a letter to the state or DNR to request the state organizations to work with property owners to find a solution for the property owners involved.
City councilwoman Elizabeth Augustus questioned if the city would be setting itself up for a lawsuit from property owners upstream if it closes the man made cut.
After an extensive amount of discussion between the city council and those in attendance, the council approved by a 4-1 margin, with Augustus voting in dissent, to send a letter to the state and DNR to encourage the state agencies to work with local groups to improve water flow along the river. The council said it would review the letter at its August meeting prior to sending it to the DNR.