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Outlet System Management
Lake Level and Precipitation Monitoring
PLSLWD staff record the water level of Spring and Prior Lake several times a week during open water. The District also
established a volunteer precipitation monitoring network in 2004 and continues to operate 6 monitoring sites within the District.
This information helps the PLSLWD determine the water flow from the head waters and ultimately operate the Prior Lake
Outlet more effectively.
Outlet Channel Improvement Project
The Prior Lake outlet and channel were constructed in 1983 to address high lake level issues on Prior Lake, which does not
have a natural outlet. While the channel and outlet have worked well over the past 20 years, the channel in many places
could be modified to operate more efficiently and enhance the environment. Likewise the outlet box has developed some
cracks, and could be modified to be more efficient. To address these needs and plan for future  development in the
watershed, the PLSLWD, along with assistance from the Cities of Prior Lake and Shakopee and the Shakopee Mdewakanton
Sioux Community, is undertaking a $3.5 million project over 5 to 7 years to enhance the outlet channel and improve the efficiency of the outlet box.
The Outlet Channel Improvement Project is based on an overall concept for restoring and improving the
outlet channel that relies on a combination of "traditional" engineering techniques such as the use of rock and boulders
to provide stability and resist bank sloughing, and bioengineering or “natural” vegetation techniques to provide
upland soil stability. The project will involve acquiring additional easements along the channel, designing the
improvements for each specific segment, constructing the improvements as well as monitoring and maintenance.
Prior Lake Outlet Structure and Channel project update (Februrary 2010)
Would you like more information on this topic? Please email: info@plslwd.org
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