New London

New London is an earth dam located in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, built in 1864. It carries a High hazard potential classification.

About New London

The primary purpose of New London is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Mndnr-fisheries (state). It impounds the Crow River Middle Fork near New London.

The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 13 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 13,371 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 102 square miles. Completed in 1864, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.

This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/23/2024.

Living Downstream

If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Minnesota dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.

Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.

High Hazard ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateMinnesota
CountyKandiyohi
Nearest CityNew London
River/StreamCrow River Middle Fork
Coordinates45.30001, -94.94483

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height22 ft
Dam Height19 ft
Dam Length13 ft
Year Completed1864 (162 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage13,371 acre-ft
Max Storage13,371 acre-ft
Normal Storage7,025 acre-ft
Drainage Area102 sq mi
Max Discharge380 cfs

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerMNDNR-Fisheries
Owner TypeState
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Last Inspection05/23/2024
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDMN00062
Federal IDMN00062
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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