OVERFLOW OF RED RIVER OF THE NORTH. 73 
of 36.000.000.000 cubic feet, which will hold the estimated maximum 
annual flow of 25.000,000.000 cubic feet with a margin of 44 per cent. 
RED LAKE RIVER. 
The Red Lake River has its source in Red Lake and has a length 
of 193 miles. It flows in a northwestery direction for 71 miles to 
Thief River Falls, thence in a southwesterly direction for about 61 
miles, and thence in a northwesterly direction for about 61 miles to 
its junction with the Red River of the Xorth at East Grand Forks. 
Minn. 
For about the first 37 miles at the upper end there is no definite 
valley, the stream following a tortuous course through the flat, 
swampy country with its bed about 5 feet below the general land 
level. Owing to the slight fall the channel has been obstructed and 
filled in until it is inadequate to carry even the normal high- water 
discharges without overflowing the adjacent land. The valley takes 
form at High Landing: it is about one-eighth mile wide at Thief 
River Falls and the width increases to three-fourths of a mile at the 
mouth. Between Thief River Falls and Crookston the river de- 
scends in a series of short rapids. Below Crookston the fall decreases, 
giving depth and velocities of flow which permit navigation by small 
launches between Fisher and East Grand Forks. Below High Land- 
ing the banks are of sufficient height to prevent overflow under high- 
water conditions except on the lower portion just below Fisher (fig. 
3, sheet 13). where at extreme high stages the river breaks over and 
a part of the flow discharges through the Grand Marais (fig. 3. 
sheet 14). There are but two tributary streams of importance, the 
Thief River entering from the north at Thief River Falls, and the 
Clearwater River entering from the east at Red Lake Falls. 
CONTROL OF RED LAKE. 
The dam proposed for the control of the lake stage is of the ordi- 
nary type of reservoir dam adopted in that district, and consists of 
" a reinforced concrete floor resting on pile foundation, which in 
turn supports alternate piers and stop-log sluices." To prevent the 
refilling of the excavated outlet by littoral drift, it is proposed to 
construct jetties of loose bowlders extending about 1,6.00 feet out into 
the lake to the end of the excavated channel. The log sluice provided 
in the dam may be used for the passage of small launches between the 
river and lake. Tentative location for a regular lock was selected,, 
should navigation ever warrant its construction. 
IMPROVEMENT OF RED LAKE RIVER. 
As the extent of navigation does not warrant the expensive opera- 
tions necessarv to render navigable the stretch of river from Thief 
