A 12-year-old girl died from an apparent drowning in a channel between two lakes in central Minnesota on Friday, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

Officers were notified of a girl in the water channel between Lakes Cowdry and Darling just outside Alexandria about 5:30 p.m. Friday, according to a news release.

With assistance from the Sheriff's Office Dive Rescue Team, officials began to search for the girl in the water and on the shore.

Search crews found the girl in 3 feet of water about 6:10 p.m., according to the Sheriff's Office. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed on the girl immediately, and an ambulance took her to the Douglas County Hospital in Alexandria. She was declared dead and taken to the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office in Ramsey for an autopsy.

Law officials have not released the girl's name and continue to investigate her death.

Eight or nine people have drowned in nonboating incidents on open water so far this year, according to Lisa Dugan with the state Department of Natural Resources.

"Fast water, especially with the temperature that it is at, is extremely dangerous," she said. "Channels [are] always spots to use extreme caution."

Miguel Otárola • 612-673-4753