Blanche Lake
Blanche 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 Blanche Lake
The primary purpose of Blanche 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 Blanche Creek near Balmoral.
The dam stands 7 feet tall and stretches 83 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,352 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 24,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 160 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 08/13/2024.
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Location
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Otter Tail |
| Nearest City | Balmoral |
| River/Stream | Blanche Creek |
| Coordinates | 46.35753, -95.64887 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 7 ft |
| Dam Height | 7 ft |
| Dam Length | 83 ft |
| Year Completed | 1938 (88 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 24,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 24,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 20,400 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,352 acres |
| Drainage Area | 160 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,569 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | MNDNR |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/13/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00214 |
| Federal ID | MN00214 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |