Leech Dam
Leech Dam is a concrete dam located in Cass County, Minnesota, built in 1885. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
About Leech Dam
The primary purpose of Leech Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Usace - St. Paul District (federal). It impounds the Leech River near Federal Dam.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 3,314 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 117,500 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 680,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1,163 square miles. Completed in 1885, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/20/2021.
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Location
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Cass |
| Nearest City | Federal Dam |
| River/Stream | Leech River |
| Coordinates | 47.24780, -94.22169 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,314 ft |
| Year Completed | 1885 (141 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 680,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 680,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 490,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 117,500 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1,163 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | USACE - St. Paul District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 05/20/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00585 |
| Federal ID | MN00585 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |