High waters inflicting costly toll in Kandiyohi County

Tom Cherveny — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 22:27:16 GMT

WILLMAR — Southern Kandiyohi County is coping with record water levels, and the consequences are as frustrating as they are costly.

Farmers south and east of Willmar have yet to tally up the acres of croplands that have been submerged and ruined since the rains began in mid-June. Lakeshore residents on Big Kandiyohi Lake are waiting for waters to recede before they can begin to assess the damage to their shorelines and yards, docks and boat lifts.

“People are frustrated. I get that,” said Duane Anderson, a Kandiyohi County Commissioner whose District 5 south of Willmar is the hardest hit. “Not much we can do.”

The Willmar Area Community Foundation and Kandiyohi County Emergency Management on Tuesday conducted an in-person help center at the Willmar Conference Center where people affected by the high waters could connect with possible help, ranging from the Red Cross to Catholic Charities.

The county is now shifting to long-term recovery efforts for those impacted by the high waters, according to Ace Bonnema, emergency management director.

As the waters rose, county staff began providing sand and sandbags for affected areas while the public works crew tended to the water-damaged roadways. The damage to public infrastructure is estimated at $1.4 million.

Last week, the County Board of Commissioners approved a letter to the governor’s office seeking disaster assistance, according to Steve Gardner, chair of the Kandiyohi County Board of Commissioners. It’s hoped that state disaster funds could cover roughly two-thirds of the costs for repairing public infrastructure.

If approved, the state funds will be available only for damage to public infrastructure. The county does not believe the total damages to private property will reach the threshold required for funding help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for individuals, Bonnema explained.

Gardner noted that the full cost of this record-breaking wet spell on farm lands is far from known: “We don’t know the full extent of damages to the crops,” he said.

Commissioner Anderson said he has roughly 100 acres of crops under water on his farm. He has not seen water this high in 30 years.

The flooded fields led some to speculate that the Crow River and drainage systems were plugged by beaver dams or obstacles. Kandiyohi County Public Drainage Manager Austin Hilbrands flew a drone all the way to Corvuso, but found no beaver dams or obstacles other than downed trees in places.

There has been anywhere from 11 to more than 13 inches of rain recorded south of Willmar since June 12, according to the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network overseen by the National Weather Service.

Anderson has recorded more than 13 inches of rain in that time. He spoke to one landowner who told him she had poured 20 inches of rain from her backyard gauge during the same period.

“She quit checking,” he said.

As waters slowly recede, property owners on Big Kandiyohi Lake are checking daily to see the damage, but it is too early to know the full extent of it.

“We won’t know how much water damage there is, shoreline damage, until the water goes down,” said David Peterson, head of the Big Kandiyohi Lake Association.

The popular recreational lake recorded its highest water at 1,104.88 above sea level on June 30, the highest the county has ever recorded, according to Hilbrands.

The Crow River flowage south of Willmar has also set records on Lake Wakanda and Lake Lillian. Lake Wakanda reached a record 1,108.25 level on June 30, and Lake Lillian topped out at 1,103.4 feet on that same date.

There are about 270 properties on Big Kandiyohi Lake. Peterson said members of the lake association’s board of directors believe it is a fair estimation to say that every single one of them has suffered some high-water damage.

Lisa Bjergo, whose cabin is near Big Kandiyohi Lake County Park East, said she has been daily raking sand that waves keep piling on her lawn. She said she considers herself fortunate compared to those with cabins and homes along the lake’s south shore, where water levels have reached their decks.

“My heart breaks for them,” she said.

The biggest worry is the winds and waves that have come with the high waters, Peterson said. There was no July 4 Parade of Boats on the lake this year due to the high water. Not only were there concerns about the wake from boats, but many have also moved their boats to higher ground due to flooded docks and lifts.

One of Peterson’s neighbors moved her dock after wave action damaged it. She moved it to her winter storage spot on her yard, and yet it stood in enough water for visiting children to use it for jumping into the lake’s cool waters over the holiday weekend.

While water levels have gone down by a few inches this week, caution remains the byword.

“There’s a lot of water that has to come through yet,” Peterson said in reference to the upstream flow.

The fear is that waves driven by high winds in coming days could add to the damage, and there is a forecast of potential rain and storms Thursday into Friday.

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Photos: Little Crow Ski Team makes waves for those with disabilities

Evan Pederson — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 10:38:00 GMT

NEW LONDON — More and more, water skiing pros and fanatics aren't the only ones shredding through the wake of a boat and getting soaked under the summer sun, and the Little Crow Water Ski Team is playing its part in sharing the fun.

Based in New London, the Little Crow Water Ski Team has put on near-weekly summertime shows for area residents every year since 1979.

On June 28 in Neer Park, the team conducted its first free adaptive water ski event for people with disabilities.

"It really went well with everybody included, and everybody's pretty excited about it," said Jan Ruby, president of the Little Crow Water Ski Team, in a telephone interview with the West Central Tribune.

The Little Crow Water Ski Team is entirely funded through local sponsorships — every member participates for free and events are conducted on a volunteering basis. In order to repay the community, the club routinely hosts free "learn to ski" events every summer, but this year the team wanted to do something more, Ruby said.

"It's a definite give-back to your community," Ruby said, adding how fortunate the team has been to have community support. "So we wanted to do this."

On that dreary Saturday afternoon, the thrill-seekers shrugged off light showers and, with the help of 27 volunteers, 11 participants of varying ages were able to safely get out on the water.

The alternative to skis to accommodate physical limitations was made by attaching outriggers — essentially stabilizers — to the sides of a larger ski. A chair made of PVC piping with a mesh cover was mounted to the top. With the help of two volunteers to balance the rig, the operation was up and running.

The Little Crow Water Ski Team was inspired by the work of the Shockwaves Adaptive Ski Squad in Shakopee, according to Ruby. The Ski Squad hosts multiple adaptive water ski events every year.

For the June 28 event, Little Crow worked in coordination with the Shakopee team, which provided most of the necessary equipment and certification to have a successful day on the river in New London.

"There's definite empathy for those that are less fortunate than we — that have disabilities or things that they can't control, but still like to have fun," Ruby said.

In a post on Facebook, the Little Crow Water Ski Team said it was an honor to spend time with the attendees and share the club's love and passion for water skiing.

"The smiles on everyone's faces says it all," said one commenter. "The beauty of inclusion is a win-win for all."

The Little Crow Water Ski Team board will vote on whether to do the event again next year. Equipment costs and balancing adaptive skiing with other shows remain concerns, Ruby said.

However, there was enough excitement surrounding this event that he remains optimistic the effort will return next year, and perhaps with more instances.

"We're obviously going to take a good look," Ruby said. "It was extremely successful."

The Little Crow Water Ski Team competes in water ski show competitions during the summer and is a part of the National Show Ski Association. The team has won 16 regional titles and two national titles.

Local shows continue most Friday nights through Aug. 22. For more information, visit the team's website at littlecrow.com.

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CROW RIVER

High waters inflicting costly toll in Kandiyohi County

Photos: Little Crow Ski Team makes waves for those with disabilities