Mississippi River Lock and Dam 2 is a concrete dam located in Dakota County, Minnesota, built in 1931. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 42 ft42 ft tall and 4,250 ft long, taller than 88% 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 Mississippi River Lock and Dam 2
The primary purpose of Mississippi River Lock and Dam 2 is navigation. The dam maintains water levels sufficient for boat and barge traffic, supporting commercial or recreational navigation on the waterway. The dam is owned by USACE - St. Paul District (federal). It impounds the Mississippi River near Hastings.
The dam stands 42 feet tall and stretches 4,250 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 11,810 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 787,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 36,990 square miles. Completed in 1931, 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 08/11/2021.
At 42 feet, this dam is taller than 88% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Dakota |
| Nearest City | Hastings |
| River/Stream | Mississippi River |
| Coordinates | 44.75947, -92.86927 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,250 ft |
| Year Completed | 1931 (95 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 787,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 787,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 82,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 11,810 acres |
| Drainage Area | 36,990 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 171,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | USACE - St. Paul District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 08/11/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00594 |
| Federal ID | MN00594 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |