Orwell Dam
Orwell Dam is an earth dam located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, built in 1953. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Orwell Dam
The primary purpose of Orwell Dam 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 Usace - St. Paul District (federal). It impounds the Otter Tail River near Breckenridge.
The dam stands 60 feet tall and stretches 1,355 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 805 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 20,600 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1,820 square miles. Completed in 1953, 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 02/23/2021.
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 | Otter Tail |
| Nearest City | Breckenridge |
| River/Stream | Otter Tail River |
| Coordinates | 46.21714, -96.17924 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,355 ft |
| Year Completed | 1953 (73 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 20,600 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 20,600 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 8,050 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 805 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1,820 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 20,400 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - St. Paul District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 02/23/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00574 |
| Federal ID | MN00574 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |