Northfield is a concrete dam located in Rice County, Minnesota, built in 1918. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 21 ft21 ft tall and 165 ft long. 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 Northfield
The primary purpose of Northfield is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Post Consumer Brands (private). It impounds the Cannon River near Northfield.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 165 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 40 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 934 square miles. Completed in 1918, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 05/17/2022.
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Location
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Rice |
| Nearest City | Northfield |
| River/Stream | Cannon River |
| Coordinates | 44.45636, -93.16148 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 165 ft |
| Year Completed | 1918 (108 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 40 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 40 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 20 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 934 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 7,300 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Post Consumer Brands |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/17/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00965 |
| Federal ID | MN00965 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |