People that are new to the Chain of Lakes in Alexandria, Minnesota will often ask me about flooding. Usually, it is because of a previous experience at a lake that didn’t have any way of releasing water. The Chain does have an outlet thanks to the Long Prairie River. So, while there are summers that the water is higher than other summers, flooding isn’t a problem. A few summers ago there were some lots that were very level to the shoreline that did have the lake creep onto their land a bit and the only negative was work needed on landscaping near the shoreline.
The head of the Long Prairie river is at the northeast corner of Lake Carlos and the river ends around 94 miles miles later where the Crow Wing River begins. There is a dam with a parking area just beyond the outflow from Lake Carlos that I pass by often when driving to visit homes or to Lake Carlos State Park for a hike. I also pass by it often on my bike as I enjoy biking around Lake Carlos. For people that don’t live in the area the parking would be a handy spot to park and unload their bikes for a ride. During the summer there frequently are people beginning a leisurely tube ride on the river.
The Beginning of the Long Prairie River and The Chain of Lakes Exit
A Long Prairie Rive Selfie
[both videos recorded November 13, 2016]
