Pelican Lake

Pelican River· St. Louis, Minnesota· Built 2002· Gravity· 8 ft tall
Low Hazard Recreation Local Government

Key Takeaway

Pelican Lake is classified as low hazard in Minnesota. It was completed in 2002 and is 24 years old. Its primary use is recreation.

Physical Details

Dam Height 8 ft (taller than 16.2% in MN)
Dam Length80 ft
Dam TypeGravity
Max Storage240.8K acre-ft
Normal Storage197.0K acre-ft
Surface Area2,050 acres
Drainage Area69 sq mi
Max Discharge3,080 cfs
Year Completed2002 (24 years old)
Year Modified2002
NID IDMN00097

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: September 20, 2023
State Regulated: Yes
Regulatory Agency: MNDNR EWR

Ownership

County of St. Louis - Hwy

Local Government

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Pelican Lake?

Pelican 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 Pelican Lake?

Pelican Lake is owned by County of St. Louis - Hwy (Local Government). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

When was Pelican Lake built?

Pelican Lake was completed in 2002, making it 24 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 Pelican Lake?

Pelican 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 Pelican Lake?

Pelican Lake has a dam height of 8 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 Pelican Lake last inspected?

Pelican Lake was last inspected on September 20, 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.