Rice Lake

County Ditch 88· Blue Earth, Minnesota· Built 1945· Earth· 7 ft tall
Low Hazard Fish And Wildlife Pond State Government

Key Takeaway

Rice Lake is classified as low hazard in Minnesota. It was completed in 1945 and is 81 years old. Its primary use is fish and wildlife pond.

Physical Details

Dam Height 7 ft (taller than 8.5% in MN)
Dam Length90 ft
Dam TypeEarth
Max Storage1.5K acre-ft
Normal Storage1.0K acre-ft
Surface Area480 acres
Drainage Area8 sq mi
Max Discharge850 cfs
Year Completed1945 (81 years old)
NID IDMN00920

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: June 15, 2016
State Regulated: Yes
Regulatory Agency: MNDNR EWR

Ownership

MNDNR-Wildlife

State Government

Nearby Dams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Rice Lake?

Rice 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 Rice Lake?

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

When was Rice Lake built?

Rice Lake was completed in 1945, making it 81 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 Rice Lake?

Rice Lake serves the following purposes: Fish And Wildlife Pond. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

How tall is Rice Lake?

Rice Lake 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 Rice Lake last inspected?

Rice Lake was last inspected on June 15, 2016. 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.