Lake Zumbro
Lake Zumbro is a gravity dam located in Wabasha County, Minnesota, built in 1919. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Lake Zumbro
The primary purpose of Lake Zumbro is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by City Of Rochester (local government). It impounds the Zumbro River near Zumbro Falls.
The dam stands 65 feet tall and stretches 570 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 35,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 845 square miles. Completed in 1919, the structure is over a century old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/18/2024.
At 65 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Minnesota dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Wabasha |
| Nearest City | Zumbro Falls |
| River/Stream | Zumbro River |
| Coordinates | 44.21266, -92.47927 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 65 ft |
| Dam Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Length | 570 ft |
| Year Completed | 1919 (107 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 35,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 35,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 20,000 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 845 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 30,000 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | City of Rochester |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Last Inspection | 07/18/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00358 |
| Federal ID | MN00358 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |