Cannon River (woolen Mills) is a gravity dam located in Rice County, Minnesota, built in 1865. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 12 ft12 ft tall and 650 ft long. 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 Cannon River (woolen Mills)
The primary purpose of Cannon River (woolen Mills) is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City of Faribault (local government). It impounds the Cannon River near Faribault.
The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 650 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 54 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,100 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 332 square miles. Completed in 1865, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
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 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 05/04/2023.
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Location
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Rice |
| Nearest City | Faribault |
| River/Stream | Cannon River |
| Coordinates | 44.30819, -93.27344 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Height | 6 ft |
| Dam Length | 650 ft |
| Year Completed | 1865 (161 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,100 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,100 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 750 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 54 acres |
| Drainage Area | 332 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 810 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | City of Faribault |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/04/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00354 |
| Federal ID | MN00354 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |