Albert Lea Watershed District Approves $7.7M Dredging Contract

The final phase of the Fountain Lake dredging project is set to begin this spring.

Mar. 10, 2026 at 10:49pm

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The Shell Rock River Watershed District Board of Managers has approved a $7.7 million contract with dredging company J.F. Brennan Co. for the third and final phase of dredging on Fountain Lake in Albert Lea, Minnesota. The project will remove about 600,000 cubic yards of sediment from portions of Bancroft Bay, Bancroft Creek, and the east basin of Fountain Lake's main bay.

Why it matters

The dredging project aims to improve water quality and recreational use of Fountain Lake, which has suffered from high levels of phosphorus and sediment buildup over the years. Completing this final phase is a significant milestone for the community's efforts to restore the lake.

The details

The dredging work will begin this spring and is expected to take two years to complete. The district initially submitted its dredging permit in May 2024 but had to appeal to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to expand the scope of the project to include Bancroft Bay, which has some of the highest levels of phosphorus in the lake.

  • The Shell Rock River Watershed District Board of Managers approved the $7.7 million contract on March 10, 2026.
  • Dredging is set to begin this spring and take two years to complete.

The players

J.F. Brennan Co.

A dredging and marine construction company that was awarded the $7.7 million contract for the final phase of the Fountain Lake dredging project.

Andy Henschel

The Shell Rock River Watershed District Administrator who thanked the board and residents for their support of the long-running dredging project.

Shell Rock River Watershed District

The local government agency responsible for overseeing the Fountain Lake dredging project in Albert Lea, Minnesota.

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What’s next

Dredging is scheduled to begin this spring and take two years to complete.

The takeaway

The approval of this $7.7 million contract marks a significant milestone in the community's long-running efforts to restore Fountain Lake and improve its water quality and recreational use. The final phase of dredging will help remove harmful sediment buildup that has plagued the lake for years.