Dayton Hollow Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dayton Hollow Dam |
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|---|---|
| Coordinates | 46°13′51″N 96°07′03″W / 46.23083°N 96.11750°W |
| Purpose | Hydro Power Fish & Wildlife Pond |
| Status | In use |
| Construction began | 1907 |
| Opening date | 1909 |
| Owner(s) | Otter Tail Power Company |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Gravity dam |
| Impounds | Otter Tail River |
| Height (foundation) | 41 ft (12 m) |
| Length | 256 ft (78 m) |
| Spillways | 1 |
| Spillway type | 7 controlled sluice gates |
| Spillway capacity | 2,000 acre⋅ft (2,500 dam3) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Dayton Hollow Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 5,000 acre⋅ft (6,200 dam3) |
| Catchment area | 1,810 sq mi (4,700 km2) |
| Normal elevation | 1,073 ft (327 m) |
| Power station | |
| Type | Conventional |
| Hydraulic head | 36 ft (11 m) |
| Turbines | 3 |
| Installed capacity | 1.0 MW |
| NIDID# MN00196 | |
The Dayton Hollow Dam is a special kind of wall built across the Otter Tail River in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. It's called a gravity dam because it uses its own heavy weight to hold back water. This dam helps make electricity from the river's flow.
It's located about 5 miles (8 km) southwest of a city called Fergus Falls. The Dayton Hollow Dam was finished in 1909. It was the very first power plant built by the Otter Tail Power Company. There are five dams along the Otter Tail River, and together they create about 3.5 megawatts of power.
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A Close Call for Dayton Hollow Dam
Not long after the Dayton Hollow Dam started working, it almost faced a big disaster. On September 24, 1909, a dam several miles upstream, called the Fergus Falls City Light Station, suddenly broke apart.
The Flood of 1909
When the upstream dam failed, a huge rush of water came down the river. Three other dams between the broken dam and Dayton Hollow Dam were completely washed away. A fourth dam was badly damaged.
Luckily, the president of Otter Tail Power Company, Vernon Wright, got a warning. He quickly reached the Dayton Hollow Dam by 6:15 AM. He was able to open the dam's spillway gates. This allowed the extra water to flow through safely. Because of his quick actions, the Dayton Hollow Dam survived. This event caused the only major flood ever recorded in the river's history.
Keeping the Power Flowing
The Dayton Hollow Dam continues to produce clean energy. The special permission, or "license," for the hydroelectric plant was set to end on November 30, 2021.
Renewing the Dam's License
In June 2016, the Otter Tail Power Company asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to renew the dam's license. They planned to keep the dam and its operations exactly as they were. This process of getting a new license takes about five years to complete.
