Orwell Dam facts for kids
The Orwell Dam is a large structure in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. It's located about six miles southwest of a town called Fergus Falls. This dam was built to help control floods and make sure there's enough water for people and farms.
Building the Dam
The Orwell Dam was built in 1953 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. This is a group that helps manage water projects across the country. The dam is made of earth and is quite big! It stands about 60 feet tall and stretches for 1,355 feet across the land. It holds back the water of the Otter Tail River. The main jobs of the dam are to prevent floods, store water for irrigation (watering crops), and provide drinking water for nearby towns. The St. Paul District of the Corps of Engineers still takes care of the dam today.
Orwell Lake: A Place for Fun
When the Orwell Dam holds back the river, it creates a lake called Orwell Lake. This lake is a great spot for outdoor activities! Normally, the lake covers about 1.3 square miles of water. It can hold a lot of water, up to 20,600 acre-feet.
People enjoy many things at Orwell Lake, like:
- Hunting: Some areas around the lake are open for hunting.
- Boating: You can take your boat out on the water.
- Fishing: The lake is home to different kinds of fish, including walleye, northern pike, crappie, and redhorse sucker. It's a popular place to cast a line!
