St. Cloud Dam facts for kids

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A side view of the St. Cloud Dam

The St. Cloud Dam is a large wall built across the Mississippi River in St. Cloud, Minnesota. It helps control the river's water and creates a reservoir. This dam is about 23 feet (7 meters) tall. It has a special gate on top that can flip up to make the water level higher. At the bottom, there are structures called "dragon's teeth" that help slow down the water's flow.

The dam also has two powerful machines called turbines. These turbines use the force of the water to make electricity. Each turbine can produce 4.5 megawatts of power. This electricity is then sent to homes and businesses through the main power lines.

What is the St. Cloud Dam?

The St. Cloud Dam is a very important structure on the Mississippi River. It is located in the city of St. Cloud, which is in the state of Minnesota, USA. The dam helps manage the river's flow and is also used to create clean energy.

How the Dam Works

The dam is designed to hold back a large amount of water. When water flows through the dam, it spins large turbines. These turbines are connected to generators, which then turn the movement into electricity. This process is called hydroelectric power.

Special Features of the Dam

The dam has a "flip-up gate" on its top. This gate can be raised to increase the water level behind the dam. This helps control how much water flows downstream. At the bottom of the dam, there are structures that look like "dragon's teeth." These are not for defense, but they help break up the force of the water as it leaves the dam. This prevents the water from causing damage to the riverbed below.

History of the St. Cloud Dam

The very first dam in this spot was built a long time ago, in 1887. Over the years, its ownership changed. In 1967, the city of St. Cloud took over the dam from a company called Northern States Power.

Rebuilding the Dam in 1970

In 1970, the dam needed to be rebuilt. During this work, a temporary wall, called a cofferdam, was built upstream. This temporary wall was supposed to hold back the river water so workers could build the new dam safely.

The Cofferdam Incident

Unfortunately, on October 31, 1970, the temporary cofferdam broke. The large amount of water it was holding back rushed out. This powerful rush of water caused a lot of damage to the construction site and to areas downstream from the dam.

The Dam Today

The St. Cloud Dam was later updated to produce hydroelectric power. This means it uses the river's water to make electricity. It is now the largest hydroelectric power plant owned by a city in Minnesota. It can produce 8.5 megawatts of electricity.

Educational Use of the Dam

Students from St. Cloud State University, which is nearby, often use the dam for their classes. They study how water moves and how it can be used to create electricity. It's a great real-world example for learning about hydrology and power generation.

Where is the Dam Located?

The dam is found just south of University Drive SE. This road connects different parts of St. Cloud. One side of the city is in Stearns County, Minnesota, and the other side is in Sherburne County, Minnesota. The dam sits right between these two areas.

• Map: 45°32′52″N 94°08′50″W / 45.54778°N 94.14722°W / 45.54778; -94.14722