Willow River is a gravity dam located in Pine County, Minnesota, built in 1941. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 26 ft26 ft tall and 377 ft long, taller than 55% 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 Willow River
The primary purpose of Willow River is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Mndnr-ewr (state). It impounds the Willow River near Willow River.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 377 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 84 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 672 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 118 square miles. Completed in 1941, 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. The most recent inspection on record was 07/11/2024.
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Location
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Pine |
| Nearest City | Willow River |
| River/Stream | Willow River |
| Coordinates | 46.32370, -92.83772 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 377 ft |
| Year Completed | 1941 (85 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 672 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 672 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 420 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 84 acres |
| Drainage Area | 118 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,710 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Mndnr-ewr |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 07/11/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00544 |
| Federal ID | MN00544 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |