Simonson Detention is an earth dam located in Olmsted County, Minnesota, built in 1967. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 29 ft29 ft tall and 408 ft long, taller than 65% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Simonson Detention
The primary purpose of Simonson Detention is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Merry, Steve (private). It impounds the Zumbro River-tr near Zumbro Falls.
The dam stands 29 feet tall and stretches 408 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 49 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1967, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 07/21/2022.
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Location
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Olmsted |
| Nearest City | Zumbro Falls |
| River/Stream | Zumbro River-tr |
| Coordinates | 44.09164, -92.39649 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 408 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 49 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 49 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 700 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Merry, Steve |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/21/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00434 |
| Federal ID | MN00434 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |