Completed Reservoirs

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This project is located in minor watershed 29019, which is in the Cottonwood River Major Watershed within Brown and Cottonwood Counties. The reservoir is located in Brown County.

This is an Area II Minnesota River Basin Project completed in 1992. It is sponsored by the Brown County Board of Commissioners and Brown County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). The purpose of this project is to create a structure that would provide flood control, fishing, swimming, and recreation.

Height of Dam:  50 Feet

Size of Pool:  70 Acres

Maximum Depth of Pool:  30 Feet

 This project is located in minor watershed 29079, which is in the Cottonwood River Major Watershed within Cottonwood County.

This is an Area II Minnesota River Basin Project completed in 1987. The project is sponsored by the Cottonwood County Board of Commissioners and Cottonwood County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). The purpose of this project is to create a structure that would provide flood control, fishing, and recreation (county park).

Height of Dam:  43 Feet

Size of Pool:  13 Acres

Maximum Depth of Pool:  20.8 feet

In 1937, LaBolt Lake was created when the WPA constructed an earthen dam across a tributary of the Yellow Bank river in Grant County, South Dakota.

The concrete spillway was repaired in the late 1940’s by the SD Game, Fish & Parks. By the mid-1970’s, sedimentation diminished the depth of the lake and its water quality. Swimming was no longer safe and game fish were unable to survive. In 1983, LaBolt citizens were determined to restore the lake and park to its historic value. In cooperation with East Dakota Conservancy Sub-District (now known as East Dakota Water Development District — EDWDD) a proposal was drafted to dredge the lake and repair the failing dam and spillway. The proposal was granted high priority by state officials. 

South Dakota Governor Bill Janklow awarded to the LaBolt Lake Project its initial grant for dredging in July 1985. The Governor’s letter states:

“I want you to know that I was very impressed with the demonstration of need. However, I must admit that I was also tremendously impressed with the cooperation that has occurred between many different individuals and groups in both states on this project. If the whole world could work as well together as all the people who have worked together on this project, we would certainly have a lot more peace and less strife.”

The MN Soil & Water Conservation Board (now known as MN Board of Water & Soil Resources) and Area II provided $30,000 for the restoration of the earthen dam and concrete spillway. A drawdown structure was installed to enhance the downstream flood damage reduction benefits. Grant County provided the construction equipment and operators. Dredge engineering was provided by SD Department of Water & Natural Resources.

Height of Dam:  25 Feet

Size of Pool:  12 Acres

Maximum Depth of Pool:  21 Feet

 This reservoir is located 7 miles east and 2 miles north of Ivanhoe, Minnesota, in Section 25, Range 44W, Township 112N in Lincoln County. The embankment stands 52.2 feet high to create a normal pool of 27.0 acres with 19.3 feet maximum depth. The construction costs including easement were $433,800. 

The reservoir is owned and maintained by the YMRWD with annual inspections conducted by the YMRWD, Area II, Lincoln SWCD, and NRCS. The reservoir provides floodwater retention as well as wildlife benefits, is located upon private property, and is not open to the public for recreational or hunting purposes. 

Height of Dam:  52.2 Feet

Size of Pool: 27.0 Acres

Maximum Depth of Pool: 19.3 Feet

This reservoir is located 5 miles south and ½ mile west of Minneota, Minnesota, in Section 27, Range 43W, Township 112N in Lyon County. The embankment stands 42.5 feet high to create a normal pool of 15.4 acres with 20.1 feet maximum depth. The construction costs including easement were $369,600. 

The reservoir is owned and maintained by the YMRWD with annual inspections conducted by the YMRWD, Area II, Lyon SWCD, and NRCS. The reservoir provides floodwater retention as well as wildlife benefits, is located on private property, and is not open to the public. 

Height of Dam:  42.5 Feet

Size of Pool:  15.4 Acres

Maximum Depth of Pool:  20.1 Feet

This project is located in minor watershed 27019 located in the Redwood River Major Watershed within Pipestone and Murray Counties. The reservoir is located in Pipestone County.

This is an Area II Minnesota River Basin Project completed in 1987. It is sponsored by the Pipestone County Board of Commissioners and Pipestone County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). The purpose of this project is to create a structure that would provide flood control, fishing, and recreation (county park).

Height of Dam: 26 Feet

Size of Pool:  9.1 Acres

Maximum Depth of Pool:  20 Feet

This project is located in minor watershed 29044, which is in the Cottonwood River Major Watershed within Redwood and Murray Counties. The reservoir is located in Redwood County.

This is an Area II Minnesota River Basin Project completed in 1979. It is sponsored by the Redwood County Board of Commissioners and Redwood County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). The purpose of this project is to create a structure that would provide flood control, swimming, fishing, camping and recreation (county park).

Height of Dam:  55.7 Feet

Size of Pool:  29.3 Acres

Maximum Depth of Pool:  21.3 Feet

This project is located in minor watershed 24015, which is in the Lac qui Parle River Major Watershed within Yellow Medicine County.

This is an Area II Minnesota River Basin Project completed in 1985. It was sponsored by the Yellow Bank - Lac qui Parle Watershed District. The purpose of this project was to create a structure that would provide flood control, fishing, swimming, camping, and recreation (regional park).

Height of Dam:  55 feet

Size of Pool:  155 Acres

Maximum Depth of Pool:  30 Feet Approximately

 This reservoir is located 3 miles west of Porter, Minnesota, in Section 36, Range 45W, Township 114N in Yellow Medicine County. The embankment stands 45.0 feet high to create a normal pool of 19.8 acres with 19.8 feet maximum depth. The construction costs including easement were $433,800. 

The reservoir is owned and maintained by the YMRWD with annual inspections conducted by the YMRWD, Area II, Yellow Medicine SWCD, and NRCS. The reservoir provides floodwater retention, wildlife benefits, and fishing/recreation as it is open to the public for recreational or hunting purposes. 

Height of Dam:  45 Feet

Size of Pool:  20.1 Acres

Maximum Depth of Pool:  19.8 Feet

LAZARUS CREEK DRY DAM 

The project is located 6 miles west and 1 mile south 

of Canby, MN within the Lac qui Parle River watershed.  

The project was jointly sponsored by the Yellow Medicine 

and Lac qui Parle County Boards of Commissioners and was

completed Fall 2005 at a cost of $1,561.288.96.  The 62’ 

high dam is considering a dry dam with no permanent 

pool of water behind it.  Although, during times of 

significant rainfall or snowmelt, the reservoir volume is 

1950 acre-feet, or 640 million gallons over an 86 acre area.

The structure is used exclusively for floodwater retention 

and wildlife habitat as 2.12 acres of wetlands were

purchased to mitigate impacts from the project.