Nearly a week after a mechanical failure led to millions of gallons of water dumping out of Alice Lake at William O'Brien State Park, Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources is trying to focus on the positive.

The state agency is also working to learn how other parks can prevent similar malfunctions.

A broken valve prevented park staff from closing a water control structure after they opened it to drain excess rainwater. On Friday, DNR staff told WCCO the valve should have been replaced nearly 30 years ago.

Other parks across the state currently have similar, aging infrastructure. To replace the dozens of necessary parts would cost nearly $20 million.

The DNR is not setting a timetable on when water could be back, but says meetings are happening across the agency to discuss usi

See Full Page