St. Cloud
St. Cloud is a gravity dam located in Stearns County, Minnesota, built in 1972. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About St. Cloud
The primary purpose of St. Cloud is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by St Cloud, City Of (local government). It impounds the Mississippi River near St Cloud.
The dam stands 23 feet tall and stretches 1,285 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 294 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,254 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 13,320 square miles. Completed in 1972, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/27/2022.
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.
Location
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Stearns |
| Nearest City | St Cloud |
| River/Stream | Mississippi River |
| Coordinates | 45.54770, -94.14720 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,285 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,254 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,254 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,254 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 294 acres |
| Drainage Area | 13,320 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 138,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | St Cloud, City of |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/27/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00506 |
| Federal ID | MN00506 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |