Sonstegard-telste is an earth dam located in Lyon County, Minnesota, built in 1983. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 46 ft46 ft tall and 1,400 ft long, taller than 91% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Sonstegard-telste
The primary purpose of Sonstegard-telste 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 Yellow Medicine River (local government). It impounds the Yellow Medicine River-tr near Minneota.
The dam stands 46 feet tall and stretches 1,400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 15 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 890 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1983, the structure is 43 years 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 07/19/2024.
At 46 feet, this dam is taller than 91% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Lyon |
| Nearest City | Minneota |
| River/Stream | Yellow Medicine River-tr |
| Coordinates | 44.47945, -96.01448 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1983 (43 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 890 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 890 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 107 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 15 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Wd of Yellow Medicine River |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/19/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN01010 |
| Federal ID | MN01010 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |