Belle Creek R-4
Belle Creek R-4 is an earth dam located in Goodhue County, Minnesota, built in 1977. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Belle Creek R-4
The primary purpose of Belle Creek R-4 is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Wd Of Belle Creek (local government). It impounds the Belle Creek-tr near White Rock.
The dam stands 56 feet tall and stretches 1,082 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 18 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,175 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1977, the structure is 49 years 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/08/2024.
At 56 feet, this dam is taller than 94% of dams nationwide.
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 | Goodhue |
| Nearest City | White Rock |
| River/Stream | Belle Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 44.42085, -92.81523 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 56 ft |
| Dam Height | 52 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,082 ft |
| Year Completed | 1977 (49 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,175 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,175 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 203 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 18 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,585 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | WD of Belle Creek |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Last Inspection | 05/08/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00868 |
| Federal ID | MN00868 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |