Brown's Valley Dam is an earth dam located in Traverse County, Minnesota, built in 1941. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 14 ft14 ft tall and 3,700 ft long. 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 Brown's Valley Dam
The primary purpose of Brown's Valley Dam 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 USACE - St. Paul District (federal). It impounds the Bois De Sioux/minnesota River near Browns Valley.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 3,700 feet across. Completed in 1941, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/09/2026.
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Location
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Traverse |
| Nearest City | Browns Valley |
| River/Stream | Bois De Sioux/minnesota River |
| Coordinates | 45.60799, -96.85117 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,700 ft |
| Year Completed | 1941 (85 years old) |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - St. Paul District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 03/09/2026 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00575 |
| Federal ID | MN00575 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |