Crooked Creek R-3
Crooked Creek R-3 is an earth dam located in Houston County, Minnesota, built in 1968. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Crooked Creek R-3
The primary purpose of Crooked Creek R-3 is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Wd Of Crooked Creek (local government). It impounds the Crooked Creek South Fork near Freeburg.
The dam stands 60 feet tall and stretches 756 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,202 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 15 square miles. Completed in 1968, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/24/2024.
At 60 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Houston |
| Nearest City | Freeburg |
| River/Stream | Crooked Creek South Fork |
| Coordinates | 43.60204, -91.41765 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Length | 756 ft |
| Year Completed | 1968 (58 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,202 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,202 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 692 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 15 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 8,940 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | WD of Crooked Creek |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Last Inspection | 04/24/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00524 |
| Federal ID | MN00524 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |