Kettle Falls is a buttress dam located in County, Minnesota, built in 1914. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 26 ft26 ft tall and 130 ft long, taller than 55% 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 Kettle Falls
The primary purpose of Kettle Falls is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Boise Cascade Corp (private). It impounds the Rainy River near International Falls.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 130 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 702,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 9,000 square miles. Completed in 1914, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 09/14/2021.
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Location
| State | Minnesota |
| Nearest City | International Falls |
| River/Stream | Rainy River |
| Coordinates | 48.49969, -92.63880 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Buttress |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 130 ft |
| Year Completed | 1914 (112 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 702,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 702,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 562,000 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 9,000 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 8,000 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Boise Cascade Corp |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/14/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00093 |
| Federal ID | MN00093 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |