Thief River Falls
Thief River Falls is a gravity dam located in Pennington County, Minnesota, built in 1946. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Thief River Falls
The primary purpose of Thief River Falls 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 Thief River Falls (local government). It impounds the Red Lake near Thief River Falls.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 193 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 160 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,150 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3,450 square miles. Completed in 1946, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/20/2022.
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Location
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Pennington |
| Nearest City | Thief River Falls |
| River/Stream | Red Lake |
| Coordinates | 48.11410, -96.17910 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 193 ft |
| Year Completed | 1946 (80 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,150 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,150 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,133 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 160 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3,450 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 17,400 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | City of Thief River Falls |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/20/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00502 |
| Federal ID | MN00502 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |