Fish Lake
Fish Lake is a gravity dam located in St. Louis County, Minnesota, built in 1911. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Fish Lake
The primary purpose of Fish Lake 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 Beaver River near Cloquet.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 760 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5,120 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 41,728 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 47 square miles. Completed in 1911, 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 09/22/2022.
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 | Cloquet |
| River/Stream | Beaver River |
| Coordinates | 46.95670, -92.27830 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 760 ft |
| Year Completed | 1911 (115 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 41,728 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 41,728 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 39,680 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5,120 acres |
| Drainage Area | 47 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Allete, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/22/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00614 |
| Federal ID | MN00614 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |