Mississippi River Lock And Dam 5
Mississippi River Lock And Dam 5 is a concrete dam located in Buffalo County, Minnesota, built in 1935. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
About Mississippi River Lock And Dam 5
The primary purpose of Mississippi River Lock And Dam 5 is navigation. The dam maintains water levels sufficient for boat and barge traffic, supporting commercial or recreational navigation on the waterway. The dam is owned by Usace - St. Paul District (federal). It impounds the Mississippi near Minnesota City.
The dam stands 43 feet tall and stretches 19,600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 12,580 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 106,600 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 58,845 square miles. Completed in 1935, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 08/08/2022.
At 43 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Buffalo |
| Nearest City | Minnesota City |
| River/Stream | Mississippi |
| Coordinates | 44.16221, -91.81016 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 43 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 19,600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1935 (91 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 106,600 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 106,600 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 57,400 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 12,580 acres |
| Drainage Area | 58,845 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 270,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | USACE - St. Paul District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 08/08/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00589 |
| Federal ID | MN00589 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |