MITCHELL, S.D. (MITCHELLNOW) The Lake Mitchell restoration project has hit another delay after state officials informed the city that new safety studies are required before a drawdown can move forward. The Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources recently told city-hired Barr Engineering that a dam breach analysis and updated flood study must be completed, even though those requirements were not raised in earlier discussions. City leaders learned Monday that the studies will take three to six months and cost up to $200,000. Mitchell is counting on a $16.8 million state loan to fund the project, but those dollars won’t be released until all permits and approvals are secured. If all goes as planned, the lake drawdown could begin in fall 2026. For more Government stories from MitchellNow.com, Click Here.