Rapidan Dam | |
---|---|
![]() Blue Earth River below Rapidan Dam | |
Country | United States |
Location | Blue Earth County, Minnesota |
Coordinates | 44°05′35″N 94°06′32″W / 44.093°N 94.109°W |
Purpose | Power |
Status | Partially failed |
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) |
Turbines | 2[1] |
Installed capacity | 6 MW[1] (not currently operating)[2] |
The Rapidan Dam is a concrete gravity dam located on the Blue Earth River in Rapidan Township southwest of Mankato, 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 were operated by Eagle Creek Renewable Energy under an agreement with the county.[1] Power was no longer generated at the dam due to damage from flooding in 2019 and 2020.[2]
Blue Earth County operates the Rapidan Dam Park & Campground on the west embankment of the dam for camping, hiking, river access, and recreational activities.[3] The Rapidan Dam Cafe and Store, which operated on the west bank of the river until 2024, was known for their homemade pies.[4]
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/People_viewing_construction_site_of_Blue_Earth_Dam%2C_Rapidan_Township%2C_Minnesota.jpg/220px-People_viewing_construction_site_of_Blue_Earth_Dam%2C_Rapidan_Township%2C_Minnesota.jpg)
The dam was built in 1910. It generated power for the Northern States Power Company until it was damaged in 1965 by flooding.[5]
In 1970, the dam was acquired by Blue Earth County, which has operated the facility since then.[6] Two years later in 1972 Blue Earth County ruled that the dam should be rebuilt or torn down due to concerns over the impact of a collapse.[7]
In 2002 it was discovered that the foundation of the dam needed emergency repairs which were carried out to stop the dam failing. This included filling concrete in a void between several buttresses and part of the base slab at the toe of the spillway. This cost $1,034,000.[8]
In 2019 the dam was damaged by flooding and stopped producing electricity. In 2021 the county commissioned two studies from BARR Engineering[9] to explore the options for the dam’s state of disrepair. Two options were studied: dam repair or dam removal.[10] From April to June 2022, the county collected community feedback regarding these options.[11] 69% of responses supported repairing the dam and 18% supported removing the dam.[12] As of April 2023 the National Inventory of Dams rated the dam in poor condition and its hazard potential as "significant".[13]
2024 storm damage
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Rapidan_Dam_failure-5.jpg/220px-Rapidan_Dam_failure-5.jpg)
Following flooding on the river due to heavy rain, on June 24, 2024, debris on the river gathered behind the dam and caused the river to back up. The dam was declared to be in an "imminent failure condition".[14] Dam operators first alerted authorities at around 10:36 a.m. CDT.[15] A flash flood warning was enacted and residents were urged to evacuate.[16][17] Officials say this is a low-risk dam if there was a catastrophic failure.[18] 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.[19]
The river suffered a side breach due to high water flows and washed away an Xcel Energy substation which provided power to around 600 customers; it also destroyed a shed and a home.[20] On June 25 at around 9:30 p.m., the home of the Rapidan Dam Store owners collapsed into the water. On June 28, Blue Earth County bought the Rapidan Dam store, and demolished it.[21][22][23] With the continuing erosion, officials are monitoring the County Highway 9 bridge that spans the river just upstream from the dam.[24]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Rapidan Dam". Blue Earth County, MN - Official Website.
- ^ a b Exemption surrender process for the Rapidan Dam (Report). Blue Earth County. March 2023.
- ^ "Rapidan Dam Park & Campground".
- ^ Rathburn, Betsy (February 1, 2021). "A Secluded Restaurant In The Minnesota Countryside, Rapidan Dam Store Is One Of The Most Charming Places You'll Ever Eat". OnlyInYourState®. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
- ^ U.S Army Corps of Engineers (2009). "Rapidan Dam Investigations Blue Earth River Feasibility Study Ecosystem Restoration" (PDF). p. 9. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ Moser, Riley (June 24, 2024). "What is the history of the Rapidan Dam in southern Minnesota? - CBS Minnesota". www.cbsnews.com. CBS Minnesota. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ heatherharren (December 30, 2015). "A Brief History of Rapidan Township". Blue Earth County Historical Society. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ BARR (2021). "Rapidan Dam Repair Feasibility Study". pp. 5, 10–11. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ "Rapidan Dam Repairs Executive Summary". Blue Earth County. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
- ^ "2021-Rapidan-Dam-Repair-Feasibility-Study_Nov_2021_Final". blueearthcountymn.gov. barr.com. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ "Rapidan-Engagement-Summary-Report_Web". blueearthcountymn.gov. blueearthcountymn.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ Grey, Meghan (August 17, 2022). "Survey results released on future of Rapidan Dam". KEYC. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ Moser, Riley (June 25, 2024). "Where is the Rapidan Dam and what is its history?". CBS News. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ Krohn, Tim; Murray, Robb; Arola, Brian; Lagerquist, Mike (June 24, 2024). "UPDATE: Rapidan Dam in 'imminent failure condition'; Mankato floodwalls expected to handle any surge". Mankato Free Press. Archived from the original on June 24, 2024. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ Swanson, Stephen (June 24, 2024). "Rapidan Dam breached by flood waters in southern Minnesota; nearby residents warned to potentially evacuate". CBS News. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ Madani, Doha (June 24, 2024). "Rapidan Dam in Minnesota is in 'imminent failure condition,' officials warn". NBC news. NBC. NBC. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ Keegan, Mitch (June 24, 2024). "BREAKING: Concerns over the integrity of the Rapidan Dam". KEYC-TV. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ Fischenich, Mark (July 18, 2021). "Ask Us: Rapidan Dam collapse wouldn't bring a wall of water to Mankato". Mankato Free Press. The Free Press. The Free Press. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ Thompson, Howard (June 25, 2024). "Rapidan Dam partial failure: What happens if the dam collapses?". FOX 9. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ Keegan, Mitch (June 26, 2024). "BREAKING: House next to Rapidan Dam falls into Blue Earth River". KEYC News. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ "Video: House near Rapidan Dam falls into Blue Earth River". MPR News. Video by Brycen Keech. June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ "Rapidan Dam house falls into Blue Earth River, caught on video". Fox9. Fox. June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ Staff, WCCO (June 28, 2024). "Video shows Rapidan Dam store being torn down, days after partially collapsing in southern Minnesota - CBS Minnesota". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
- ^ Krueger, Andrew (June 27, 2024). "Owners of flood-imperiled Rapidan Dam Store vow to reopen; community rallies to support family". MPR News. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
Sources
External links
- 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
- Hydroelectric power plant stubs
- Disaster stubs