Balsam Lake is an earth dam located in Becker County, Minnesota, built in 1964. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 9 ft9 ft tall and 50 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Balsam Lake
The primary purpose of Balsam Lake is fish and wildlife pond. The dam creates habitat for fish and wildlife, supporting local ecosystems and potentially serving conservation goals. The dam is owned by USFWS (federal). It impounds the Buffalo River-tr near Richwood.
The dam stands 9 feet tall and stretches 50 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 103 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,435 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1964, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Becker |
| Nearest City | Richwood |
| River/Stream | Buffalo River-tr |
| Coordinates | 46.95723, -95.68243 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 9 ft |
| Dam Height | 9 ft |
| Dam Length | 50 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,435 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,435 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 178 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 103 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 30 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fish and Wildlife Pond |
| Owner | USFWS |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00621 |
| Federal ID | MN00621 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |