Nest Lake

Crow River Middle Fork· Kandiyohi, Minnesota· Built 1964· Gravity· 12 ft tall
Low Hazard Recreation Local Government

Key Takeaway

Nest Lake is classified as low hazard in Minnesota. It was completed in 1964 and is 62 years old. Its primary use is recreation.

Physical Details

Dam Height 12 ft (taller than 41.3% in MN)
Dam Length34 ft
Dam TypeGravity
Max Storage13.2K acre-ft
Normal Storage11.0K acre-ft
Surface Area1,008 acres
Drainage Area123 sq mi
Max Discharge435 cfs
Year Completed1964 (62 years old)
Year Modified2022
NID IDMN00061

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: April 18, 2023
State Regulated: Yes
Regulatory Agency: MNDNR EWR

Ownership

Private Dam Owner County of Kandiyohi

Local Government

Nearby Dams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Nest Lake?

Nest Lake 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 Nest Lake?

Nest Lake is owned by Private Dam Owner County of Kandiyohi (Local Government). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

When was Nest Lake built?

Nest Lake was completed in 1964, making it 62 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 Nest Lake?

Nest Lake 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 Nest Lake?

Nest Lake has a dam height of 12 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 Nest Lake last inspected?

Nest Lake was last inspected on April 18, 2023. 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.