Pike River is a gravity dam located in St. Louis County, Minnesota, built in 1912. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 30 ft30 ft tall and 250 ft long, taller than 68% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Pike River
The primary purpose of Pike River is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Mndnr-fisheries (state). It impounds the Pike River near Tower.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 250 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,254 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 185 square miles. Completed in 1912, the structure is over a century old.
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. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 09/15/2021.
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Location
| State | Minnesota |
| County | St. Louis |
| Nearest City | Tower |
| River/Stream | Pike River |
| Coordinates | 47.79106, -92.36875 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 250 ft |
| Year Completed | 1912 (114 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,254 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,254 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,049 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 185 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,570 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Mndnr-fisheries |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 09/15/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00092 |
| Federal ID | MN00092 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |