Coon Rapids

About Coon Rapids

The primary purpose of Coon Rapids is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Three Rivers Park District (local government). It impounds the Mississippi River near Coon Rapids.

The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 2,008 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 160 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 19,219 square miles. Completed in 1913, the structure is over a century old.

This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/13/2022.

At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 82% of dams nationwide.

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