Lac Qui Parle Dam
Lac Qui Parle Dam is a concrete dam located in Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota, built in 1939. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Lac Qui Parle Dam
The primary purpose of Lac Qui Parle 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 Minnesota near Montevideo.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 4,327 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8,500 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 122,800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6,100 square miles. Completed in 1939, 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 06/14/2022.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 82% 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 | Lac qui Parle |
| Nearest City | Montevideo |
| River/Stream | Minnesota |
| Coordinates | 45.02194, -95.86914 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,327 ft |
| Year Completed | 1939 (87 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 122,800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 122,800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 29,700 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8,500 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6,100 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 35,000 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 | 06/14/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00580 |
| Federal ID | MN00580 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |