Clearwater River is a gravity dam located in Stearns County, Minnesota, built in 1937. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 15 ft15 ft tall and 33 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 Clearwater River
The primary purpose of Clearwater River is grade stabilization. Grade stabilization dams prevent erosion by reducing the slope and velocity of water flowing through a channel. They're commonly used to stop gullies from deepening and to protect downstream land and infrastructure. The dam is owned by County of Stearns;county of Wright (local government). It impounds the Clearwater River near Clearwater.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 33 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 13 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 102 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 175 square miles. Completed in 1937, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 07/14/2022.
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Location
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Stearns |
| Nearest City | Clearwater |
| River/Stream | Clearwater River |
| Coordinates | 45.42371, -94.05287 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 33 ft |
| Year Completed | 1937 (89 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 102 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 102 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 7 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 13 acres |
| Drainage Area | 175 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Grade Stabilization |
| Owner | County of Stearns;county of Wright |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/14/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN01331 |
| Federal ID | MN01331 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |