SCANDIA, Minn. — The mechanical failure of a water control valve has reduced a popular recreational lake at William O'Brien State Park to a trickle.

Lake Alice is a 26-acre lake that is 9 feet deep in spots. It features a swimming beach that caters to park visitors, a fishing pier and other recreational features.

Multiple reports say recent rains had caused the lake's levels to rise, so staffers opened a valve on Friday to release enough water to prevent Lake Alice from overflowing. Instead, the DNR says they intended to close the valve Saturday morning, but according to the DNR, it was stuck open because of a mechanical issue.

A news release posted by the DNR says the mechanical failure resulted in a "significant drawdown" of Lake Alice, reducing the water level to just a stream. It tr

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