White Rock Dam
White Rock Dam is an earth dam located in Traverse County, Minnesota, built in 1941. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About White Rock Dam
The primary purpose of White Rock 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 near Wahpeton.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 14,500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3,850 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 95,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1,160 square miles. Completed in 1941, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 07/17/2023.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 78% 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 | Traverse |
| Nearest City | Wahpeton |
| River/Stream | Bois De Sioux |
| Coordinates | 45.86156, -96.57302 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 14,500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1941 (85 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 95,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 95,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 6,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3,850 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1,160 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,600 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - St. Paul District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 07/17/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00577 |
| Federal ID | MN00577 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |