Quarry Lake is landlocked because there is no outlet to allow water to discharge from the basin. Since mining operations completed and Quarry lake was established, water levels have been steadily rising. In 2019, the water level of Quarry Lake started to inundate park infrastructure.

In 2019, Quarry Lake was pumped down to protect existing infrastructure from inundation and potential damage from frozen conditions. The drawdown was also to provide time to complete a water level management plan to evaluate outlet options and help establish a normal water level for long-term management of lake levels. The Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) project  for annual erosion issues, pond cleaning and outlet improvements (Storm-20-001) was amended to include the Quarry Lake Water Level Management Plan study.

The water level management plan evaluated sources causing the steady increase in water levels and outlet options for long-term management of lake levels. This information will be used to make management decisions that include existing and future park improvements, and improvements proposed by the Shakopee-Prior Lake Water Ski Association.

City staff will give a presentation on the Quarry Lake Water Level Management Plan.