Pelican Lake

Pelican Lake is a gravity dam located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, built in 1938. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.

About Pelican Lake

The primary purpose of Pelican Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Mndnr (state). It impounds the Pelican River near Dunvilla.

The dam stands 7 feet tall and stretches 140 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3,962 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 70,250 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 242 square miles. Completed in 1938, 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 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 08/24/2016.

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

Low HazardFair ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Not Required

Location

StateMinnesota
CountyOtter Tail
Nearest CityDunvilla
River/StreamPelican River
Coordinates46.67391, -96.02013

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeGravity
NID Height7 ft
Dam Height6 ft
Dam Length140 ft
Year Completed1938 (88 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage70,250 acre-ft
Max Storage70,250 acre-ft
Normal Storage61,950 acre-ft
Surface Area3,962 acres
Drainage Area242 sq mi
Max Discharge1,179 cfs

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerMNDNR
Owner TypeState
Hazard ClassificationLow
Condition AssessmentFair
Last Inspection08/24/2016
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDMN00198
Federal IDMN00198
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

Nearby Dams