Pelican River
Pelican River is a gravity dam located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, built in 1878. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Pelican River
The primary purpose of Pelican River is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Mill Pond Partners (private). It impounds the Pelican River near Elizabeth.
The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 366 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 40 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 70 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 467 square miles. Completed in 1878, the structure is over a century old.
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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 06/14/2023.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Otter Tail |
| Nearest City | Elizabeth |
| River/Stream | Pelican River |
| Coordinates | 46.38000, -96.12585 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 366 ft |
| Year Completed | 1878 (148 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 70 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 70 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 60 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 40 acres |
| Drainage Area | 467 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,940 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Mill Pond Partners |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/14/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00191 |
| Federal ID | MN00191 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |