Island Lake North Dike
Island Lake North Dike is an earth dam located in St. Louis County, Minnesota, built in 1915. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Island Lake North Dike
The primary purpose of Island Lake North Dike 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 Cloquet River.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 1,100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10,800 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 177,000 acre-feet. Completed in 1915, 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 09/23/2021.
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 |
| River/Stream | Cloquet River |
| Coordinates | 47.01170, -92.23450 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1915 (111 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 177,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 177,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 166,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10,800 acres |
| Max Discharge | 7,445 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Allete, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/23/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00612 |
| Federal ID | MN00612S001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |