Birch Lake
Birch Lake is a rockfill dam located in Lake County, Minnesota, built in 1922. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Birch Lake
The primary purpose of Birch Lake 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 Kawishiwi River near Winton.
The dam stands 7 feet tall and stretches 227 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7,624 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 39,680 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1,100 square miles. Completed in 1922, 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. The most recent inspection on record was 07/24/2018.
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Location
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Lake |
| Nearest City | Winton |
| River/Stream | Kawishiwi River |
| Coordinates | 47.81580, -91.78330 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 7 ft |
| Dam Height | 7 ft |
| Dam Length | 227 ft |
| Year Completed | 1922 (104 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 39,680 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 39,680 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 35,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7,624 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1,100 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 11,617 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Allete, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/24/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00654 |
| Federal ID | MN00654 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |