Watkins Lake is a gravity dam located in Waseca County, Minnesota, built in 1938. It carries a Undetermined hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 7 ft7 ft tall. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Watkins Lake
The primary purpose of Watkins Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Mndnr (state). It impounds the Crane Creek near Owatanna.
The dam stands 7 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 134 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 31 square miles. Completed in 1938, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 12/08/2015. That was over 10 years ago.
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Location
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Waseca |
| Nearest City | Owatanna |
| River/Stream | Crane Creek |
| Coordinates | 44.10698, -93.44323 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 7 ft |
| Dam Height | 4 ft |
| Year Completed | 1938 (88 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 148 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 134 acres |
| Drainage Area | 31 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 600 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Mndnr |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Undetermined |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/08/2015 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00881 |
| Federal ID | MN00881 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |