Straight Lake, located in Minnesota, is a state-regulated dam on the Straight River with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction.
Wind
Humidity
Built in 1942, this gravity dam stands at a height of 20 feet and has a hydraulic height of 3.2 feet. With a normal storage capacity of 2890 acre-feet and a drainage area of 36 square miles, this dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow and protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, Straight Lake poses a high risk due to its location and the volume of water it can store. The dam has no spillway and is associated with the WPA-DI-SL designer. Straight Lake's inspection frequency is every 8 years, with the last inspection conducted in August 2016. As climate change continues to impact water resources and increase the frequency of extreme weather events, the importance of well-maintained dams like Straight Lake in mitigating flood risks cannot be overstated.
In the event of an emergency, Straight Lake has plans in place to ensure the safety of the surrounding community, though details on emergency preparedness, inundation maps, and risk management measures are not provided in the data. With Collin Peterson (D) as the representative for the area and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources as the state regulatory agency, Straight Lake serves as a vital infrastructure for water resource management and climate resilience in Becker County, Minnesota.
Year Completed |
1942 |
Dam Length |
300 |
Dam Height |
6.5 |
River Or Stream |
STRAIGHT RIVER |
Primary Dam Type |
Gravity |
Surface Area |
450 |
Hydraulic Height |
3.2 |
Drainage Area |
36 |
Nid Storage |
2890 |
Structural Height |
20 |
Hazard Potential |
Low |
Foundations |
Unlisted/Unknown |
Nid Height |
20 |
Straight River Near Park Rapids
|
46cfs |
Crow Wing River At Nimrod
|
279cfs |
Mississippi River Near Bemidji
|
169cfs |
Buffalo River Near Hawley
|
24cfs |
Wild Rice River At Twin Valley
|
85cfs |
Otter Tail River Near Elizabeth
|
111cfs |
| Location | Reservations | Toilets |
|---|---|---|
Wolf Lake City Campground
|
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Waterfront Park
|
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Hungryman Lake- Two Inlets State Forest
|
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Hungryman Forest Campground
|