Little Bemidji Lake
Little Bemidji Lake is a gravity dam located in Becker County, Minnesota, built in 1938. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Little Bemidji Lake
The primary purpose of Little Bemidji Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Mndnr (state). It impounds the Otter Tail River near Seasonal Dwellings.
The dam stands 9 feet tall and stretches 50 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 290 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 13,312 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 45 square miles. Completed in 1938, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 07/31/2018.
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Location
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Becker |
| Nearest City | Seasonal Dwellings |
| River/Stream | Otter Tail River |
| Coordinates | 47.09043, -95.55010 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 9 ft |
| Dam Height | 9 ft |
| Dam Length | 50 ft |
| Year Completed | 1938 (88 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 13,312 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 13,312 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 12,480 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 290 acres |
| Drainage Area | 45 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,800 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | MNDNR |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/31/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00025 |
| Federal ID | MN00025 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |