Rapidan Dam
| Rapidan Dam | |
|---|---|
 Blue Earth River below Rapidan Dam | |
  Location of Rapidan Dam in Minnesota | |
| Country | United States |
| Location | Blue Earth County, Minnesota |
| Coordinates | 44°05′34″N 94°06′31″W / 44.092727°N 94.108662°W |
| Purpose | Power |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1908 |
| Opening date | 1910 |
| Owner(s) | Blue Earth County Government |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Concrete Gravity |
| Impounds | Blue Earth River |
| Height | 87 ft (27 m) |
| Length | 475 ft (145 m) |
| Spillways | 5 steel Tainter gates and 2 timber gates |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Rapidan Lake |
| Catchment area | 2,430 sq mi (6,300 km2) |
| Surface area | 318 acres (129 ha) |
The Rapidan Dam is a concrete gravity dam located on the Blue Earth River in Rapidan Township, near Rapidan, Minnesota in the United States. The dam was constructed for Hydroelectric Power Generation from 1908 to 1910. The dam and reservoir are owned by Blue Earth County, and the power plant and dam are operated by North American Hydro under an agreement with the county.[1] The dam is located just southwest of Mankato, Minnesota.
Blue Earth County operates the Rapidan Dam Park & Campground on the west embankment of the dam for camping, hiking, river access, and recreational activities.[2]
Repair or remove?
In 2021, the county commissioned two studies to explore the options for addressing the dam’s state of disrepair — either dam repair [1] or dam removal.[2] In April to June 2022, the county collected community feedback regarding these options. [3]
Dam failure
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (June 2024) |
Following flooding on the river due to heavy rain, on June 24, 2024, the Blue Earth River cut through the sides of the dam, and the dam was declared to be in an "imminent failure condition". The river caused flooding and washed away an Xcel Energy substation which provides power to around 600 customers; it also destroyed a store and building. A flash flood warning was enacted and residents were urged to evacuate.[3][4]
Predictions have been made about possible casualties and damage. [4] They indicated that the campground would need to be evacuated, and then the only risk would be to people located on the river itself. The largest damage is predicted to be environmental, as a large amount of sediment has built up in the reservoir, and much of it would eventually wash down river.
See also
External links
- Eagle Creek Renewable Energy - Rapidan Dam
- Rapidan Dam - Blue Earth County, Minnesota
- Rapidan Dam Park and Campground - Blue Earth County, Minnesota
References
- ^ "Rapidan Dam | Blue Earth County, MN - Official Website".
- ^ "Rapidan Dam Park & Campground".
- ^ Madani, Doha (June 24, 2024). "Rapidan Dam in Minnesota is in 'imminent failure condition,' officials warn". NBC news. NBC. NBC. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ Keegan, Mitch (2024-06-24). "BREAKING: Concerns over the integrity of the Rapidan Dam". KEYC-TV. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
Sources
- Current events from June 2024
- Dams in Minnesota
- United States local public utility dams
- Buildings and structures in Blue Earth County, Minnesota
- Gravity dams
- Hydroelectric power plants in Minnesota
- Dams completed in 1910
- Energy infrastructure completed in 1910
- Rivers of Minnesota
- Bodies of water of Blue Earth County, Minnesota
- 1910 establishments in Minnesota
- Minnesota geography stubs