Lake Byllesby Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Byllesby Dam |
|
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Location | Dakota County and Goodhue County, Minnesota |
| Status | Operational |
| Opening date | 1910 |
| Owner(s) | Dakota County, Minnesota |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Concrete gravity dam |
| Impounds | Cannon River |
| Height | 75-foot (23 m) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Lake Byllesby |
| Total capacity | 20,000 acre-feet (25,000,000 m3) |
| Surface area | 1,432 acres (580 ha) |
The Lake Byllesby Dam is a large concrete structure in Dakota County and Goodhue County, Minnesota. It is located near the city of Cannon Falls. This dam helps control the Cannon River. It is about 30 miles southeast of the Twin Cities.
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Byllesby Dam: Powering Minnesota
The Byllesby Dam is a special type of dam called a concrete gravity dam. This means it uses its own heavy weight to hold back the water. The dam is about 75 feet tall. It was built to create electricity using the power of flowing water. This is called hydroelectric power.
Building the Byllesby Dam
The dam was built in 1910 by a company called H.M. Byllesby & Company. This company was started by H.M. Byllesby himself. He used to work for famous inventors like Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse. In 1909, Byllesby started a company that later became known as Northern States Power. The dam was built to produce 1.8 megawatts of electricity. This is enough power for many homes and businesses.
Lake Byllesby: A Man-Made Lake
When the Byllesby Dam was built, it created a large lake behind it. This lake is called Lake Byllesby. The lake covers about 1,432 acres of land. It can hold a huge amount of water, about 20,000 acre-feet. This lake is important for both power generation and recreation.
Who Manages the Dam?
Today, the Byllesby Dam is owned and operated by Dakota County. They make sure the dam works properly. They also manage the lake and its surroundings.
