South Branch Wild Rice Lower
South Branch Wild Rice Lower is an earth dam located in Becker County, Minnesota, built in 1981. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About South Branch Wild Rice Lower
The primary purpose of South Branch Wild Rice Lower 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 Wd Of Wild Rice (local government). It impounds the Wild Rice River S Branch near Ulen.
The dam stands 21 feet tall, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,215 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 43 square miles. Completed in 1981, the structure is 45 years 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 03/23/2012. That was over 14 years ago.
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Location
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Becker |
| Nearest City | Ulen |
| River/Stream | Wild Rice River S Branch |
| Coordinates | 47.03745, -96.05829 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Height | 21 ft |
| Year Completed | 1981 (45 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,215 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,215 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 10 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 43 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 595 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | WD of Wild Rice |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/23/2012 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00913 |
| Federal ID | MN00913 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |