Ripple Lake
Ripple Lake is a gravity dam located in Aitkin County, Minnesota, built in 1938. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Ripple Lake
The primary purpose of Ripple 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 Ripple River near Aitkin.
The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 35 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 600 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 101 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 06/28/2018.
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Location
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Aitkin |
| Nearest City | Aitkin |
| River/Stream | Ripple River |
| Coordinates | 46.46218, -93.69041 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Height | 6 ft |
| Dam Length | 35 ft |
| Year Completed | 1938 (88 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,600 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 600 acres |
| Drainage Area | 101 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,470 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | MNDNR |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/28/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00243 |
| Federal ID | MN00243 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |