Pelican Lake, located in St. Louis County, Minnesota, is a man-made reservoir on the Pelican River with a primary purpose other than flood control or water supply. The dam, completed in 2002, is a gravity dam with a height of 8 feet and a length of 80 feet, providing a normal storage capacity of 197,010 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 240,790 acre-feet. The reservoir covers an area of 2050 acres and has a drainage area of 69.4 square miles.

Maintained by the local government, Pelican Lake is regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Division of Ecological and Water Resources. With a controlled spillway and a low hazard potential, the dam is considered to be in fair condition as of the last assessment in 2013. Despite the very high risk of failure indicated by the risk assessment, the dam has not been modified in recent years and is inspected every 8 years. In the event of an emergency, the reservoir's Emergency Action Plan status and preparation are currently unspecified.

For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Pelican Lake presents an intriguing case study of a locally-managed reservoir with unique characteristics and risk factors. Its presence along the Pelican River adds to the ecological diversity of the region, and its regulated operation ensures a balance between water storage and flood risk management. As climate change continues to impact water resources, understanding and monitoring the condition of dams like Pelican Lake becomes crucial for sustainable water management in the future.