Flood Control

South St. Paul is located along the western riverbank of the Mississippi River. Because of potential flooding, the US Army Corps of Engineers and the City of South St. Paul built the current floodwall and earthen levee in 1967. The levee was initially maintained by the Corps. In the early 1980's, the levee was turned over to the City for routine maintenance. The levee/floodwall protects most of the City’s business/industrial area near the river.

Property Protection Floodwalls:

• Properties near the river from approximately I-494 to just north of Wentworth Avenue are protected by a permanent levee or flood wall with an average elevation of 710.0.
• Properties near the river and south of I-494 not protected by the permanent levee are protected by a temporary levee with a top elevation of 705.0.
• Properties near the river and north of Wentworth Avenue are protected by a temporary levee with a top elevation of 708.0.

Levee Extension Study:

In 2012, the State of MN awarded a grant to the City to study, locate and preliminarily design a levee to protect an area of property south of I-494 in South St. Paul. The City hired an engineering firm to prepare the study. Phase 1 of the Levee Extension Study (PDF) was presented to the City Council along with a Levee Extension Study PowerPoint presentation (PDF).