Silver Lake is a gravity dam located in Olmsted County, Minnesota, built in 1935. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 30 ft30 ft tall and 251 ft long, taller than 68% 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 concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Silver Lake
The primary purpose of Silver Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City of Rochester (local government). It impounds the Zumbro River South Fork near Rochester.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 251 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 58 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 400 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 234 square miles. Completed in 1935, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years 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 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 04/19/2023.
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Location
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Olmsted |
| Nearest City | Rochester |
| River/Stream | Zumbro River South Fork |
| Coordinates | 44.03692, -92.46246 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Length | 251 ft |
| Year Completed | 1935 (91 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 400 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 400 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 215 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 58 acres |
| Drainage Area | 234 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 22,849 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | City of Rochester |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/19/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00515 |
| Federal ID | MN00515 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |