Fond Du Lac
Fond Du Lac is a gravity dam located in St. Louis County, Minnesota, built in 1924. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Fond Du Lac
The primary purpose of Fond Du Lac is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Allete, Inc. (private). It impounds the St Louis River near Duluth.
The dam stands 80 feet tall and stretches 1,475 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 160 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,675 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3,600 square miles. Completed in 1924, the structure is over a century old.
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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/21/2022.
At 80 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.
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 | St. Louis |
| Nearest City | Duluth |
| River/Stream | St Louis River |
| Coordinates | 46.66550, -92.29650 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 80 ft |
| Dam Height | 80 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,475 ft |
| Year Completed | 1924 (102 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,675 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,675 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,483 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 160 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3,600 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 181,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Allete, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/21/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00603 |
| Federal ID | MN00603 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |