Clearwater River

Clearwater River is a gravity dam located in Stearns County, Minnesota, built in 1937. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.

About Clearwater River

The primary purpose of Clearwater River is grade stabilization. Grade stabilization dams prevent erosion by reducing the slope and velocity of water flowing through a channel. They're commonly used to stop gullies from deepening and to protect downstream land and infrastructure. The dam is owned by County Of Stearns;county Of Wright (local government). It impounds the Clearwater River near Clearwater.

The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 33 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 13 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 102 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 175 square miles. Completed in 1937, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.

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 07/14/2022.

Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.

Low HazardSatisfactory ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Not Required

Location

StateMinnesota
CountyStearns
Nearest CityClearwater
River/StreamClearwater River
Coordinates45.42371, -94.05287

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeGravity
NID Height15 ft
Dam Height15 ft
Dam Length33 ft
Year Completed1937 (89 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage102 acre-ft
Max Storage102 acre-ft
Normal Storage7 acre-ft
Surface Area13 acres
Drainage Area175 sq mi
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeGrade Stabilization
OwnerCounty of Stearns;County of Wright
Owner TypeLocal Government
Hazard ClassificationLow
Condition AssessmentSatisfactory
Last Inspection07/14/2022
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDMN01331
Federal IDMN01331
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

Nearby Dams