Prairie River
Prairie River is a gravity dam located in Itasca County, Minnesota, built in 1920. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Prairie River
The primary purpose of Prairie River is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Allete, Inc. (private). It impounds the Prairie River near Grand Rapids.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 1,160 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,000 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 17,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 446 square miles. Completed in 1920, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/01/2018.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 82% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Itasca |
| Nearest City | Grand Rapids |
| River/Stream | Prairie River |
| Coordinates | 47.28680, -93.49700 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,160 ft |
| Year Completed | 1920 (106 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 17,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 17,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 15,800 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2,000 acres |
| Drainage Area | 446 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,700 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Allete, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/01/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00609 |
| Federal ID | MN00609 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |