Posted on May 11, 2022
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, will celebrate the reopening of its newly renovated visitor center at its Lake Ashtabula Dam and Recreation Area, as well as the site’s 70th anniversary, with a ribbon cutting ceremony May 18, at 11 a.m.
The public is invited to attend or watch it live on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/usace.saintpaul.
“We’re excited to celebrate the anniversary of Baldhill Dam and to dedicate our newly renovated visitor center,” said Scott Tichy, lead natural resources specialist. “We hope the community will turn out to help us celebrate.”
Baldhill Dam was completed in 1951 and was dedicated in 1952. The visitor center was constructed in 1977 and originally housed a park ranger office and some displays related to the flora and fauna of the recreation area. The visitor center was renovated to include interpretive displays about the site and its relationship with the community.
Today, Baldhill Dam provides municipal water supply, flood risk reduction, recreation, rural water supply and pollution abatement. The Corps operates seven recreation areas at Lake Ashtabula, as well as actively manages 14 separate wildlife areas at Lake Ashtabula.
The St. Paul District operates 49 recreation areas, ranging from public boat landings along the Mississippi River to visitor centers at its locks to full-service campgrounds. These recreation areas are an important component of the region’s tourism industry, and the impact on the local and regional economies is significant.
