Custer 15 is a rockfill dam located in Lyon County, Minnesota, built in 1991. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 27 ft27 ft tall and 280 ft long, taller than 59% 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 rockfill embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Custer 15
The primary purpose of Custer 15 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 Lyon (local government). It impounds the Cottonwood River-tr near Sanborn.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 280 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 110 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1991, the structure is 35 years old.
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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 05/02/2018.
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Location
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Lyon |
| Nearest City | Sanborn |
| River/Stream | Cottonwood River-tr |
| Coordinates | 44.25427, -95.75907 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 280 ft |
| Year Completed | 1991 (35 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 110 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 110 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | County of Lyon |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 05/02/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN01720 |
| Federal ID | MN01720 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |