Thief Lake

Thief River· Marshall, Minnesota· Built 1931· Gravity· 13 ft tall
Low Hazard Fish And Wildlife Pond State Government

Key Takeaway

Thief Lake is classified as low hazard in Minnesota. It was completed in 1931 and is 95 years old. Its primary use is fish and wildlife pond.

Physical Details

Dam Height 13 ft (taller than 45.7% in MN)
Dam Length70 ft
Dam TypeGravity
Max Storage63.9K acre-ft
Normal Storage35.5K acre-ft
Surface Area7,430 acres
Drainage Area280 sq mi
Max Discharge3,190 cfs
Year Completed1931 (95 years old)
NID IDMN00218

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 2, 2018
State Regulated: Yes
Regulatory Agency: MNDNR EWR

Ownership

MNDNR-Wildlife

State Government

Nearby Dams

Pool No. 1

Marshall, MN

Low Hazard 11 ft

Pool No. 25

Marshall, MN

Low Hazard 7 ft

Pool No. 22

Marshall, MN

Low Hazard 8 ft

Pool No. 24

Marshall, MN

Low Hazard 8 ft

Pool No. 7

Marshall, MN

Low Hazard 8 ft

Pool No. 3

Marshall, MN

Low Hazard 9 ft

Pool No. 21

Marshall, MN

Low Hazard 8 ft

Pool No. 23

Marshall, MN

Low Hazard 8 ft

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Thief Lake?

Thief 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 Thief Lake?

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

When was Thief Lake built?

Thief Lake was completed in 1931, making it 95 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 Thief Lake?

Thief 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 Thief Lake?

Thief Lake has a dam height of 13 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 Thief Lake last inspected?

Thief Lake was last inspected on August 2, 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.