Alta Vista 36 is an earth dam located in Lincoln County, Minnesota, built in 2006. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 32 ft32 ft tall, taller than 74% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Alta Vista 36
The primary purpose of Alta Vista 36 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 County of Lincoln (local government). It impounds the Yellow Medicine River-tr near Taunton.
The dam stands 32 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 655 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 2006, the structure is relatively new.
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 05/10/2023.
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Location
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Lincoln |
| Nearest City | Taunton |
| River/Stream | Yellow Medicine River-tr |
| Coordinates | 44.55783, -96.09394 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Height | 32 ft |
| Year Completed | 2006 (20 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 655 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 655 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | County of Lincoln |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/10/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN01414 |
| Federal ID | MN01414 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |