Dead Lake East

County Ditch 28· Otter Tail, Minnesota· Built 1938· Gravity· 7 ft tall
Low Hazard Recreation State Government

Key Takeaway

Dead Lake East is classified as low hazard in Minnesota. It was completed in 1938 and is 88 years old. Its primary use is recreation.

Physical Details

Dam Height 7 ft (taller than 8.5% in MN)
Dam Length50 ft
Dam TypeGravity
Max Storage100.2K acre-ft
Normal Storage77.1K acre-ft
Surface Area7,534 acres
Drainage Area126 sq mi
Max Discharge950 cfs
Year Completed1938 (88 years old)
NID IDMN00206

Safety Information

Low Hazard

No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected.

Hazard potential describes downstream consequences of failure, not the dam's current condition. What does this mean?

Emergency Action Plan: No
Last Inspection: August 29, 2018
State Regulated: Yes
Regulatory Agency: MNDNR EWR

Ownership

MNDNR

State Government

Nearby Dams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Dead Lake East?

Dead Lake East is classified as Low Hazard. No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected. This classification refers to the potential downstream consequences of a failure, not the dam's current structural condition.

Who owns and operates Dead Lake East?

Dead Lake East is owned by MNDNR (State Government). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

When was Dead Lake East built?

Dead Lake East was completed in 1938, making it 88 years old. Many U.S. dams were built between the 1930s and 1970s during a period of major infrastructure investment.

What is the primary purpose of Dead Lake East?

Dead Lake East serves the following purposes: Recreation. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

How tall is Dead Lake East?

Dead Lake East has a dam height of 7 ft. Dam height is measured from the natural streambed at the downstream toe to the top of the dam, and may differ from the visible height.

When was Dead Lake East last inspected?

Dead Lake East was last inspected on August 29, 2018. Inspection dates indicate when a formal review occurred, not the results of that inspection.

Data from the National Inventory of Dams (NID) maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Dam conditions may have changed since the last update. This site is not affiliated with USACE. Do not use for emergency planning — contact your local dam safety program.