Redwood Falls
Redwood Falls is a gravity dam located in Redwood County, Minnesota, built in 1902. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Redwood Falls
The primary purpose of Redwood 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 Redwood Falls (local government). It impounds the Redwood River near Redwood Falls.
The dam stands 41 feet tall and stretches 250 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 100 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 677 square miles. Completed in 1902, 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 05/23/2024.
At 41 feet, this dam is taller than 88% of dams nationwide.
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 | Redwood |
| Nearest City | Redwood Falls |
| River/Stream | Redwood River |
| Coordinates | 44.54095, -95.12208 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Length | 250 ft |
| Year Completed | 1902 (124 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 700 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 100 acres |
| Drainage Area | 677 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 35,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | City of Redwood Falls |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Last Inspection | 05/23/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00511 |
| Federal ID | MN00511 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |