Sartell Dam

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Sartell Dam
Sartell Dam
Sartell Dam
Impounds Mississippi River
Creates Little Rock Lake
Locale Sartell, Minnesota, USA
Maintained by Verso Paper
Height 20 ft[citation needed]
Construction began 1907
Opening date 1911

The Sartell Dam is a dam across the Mississippi River in Sartell, Minnesota in the United States. The dam generates hydroelectric power for the adjoining Sartell Paper Mill. The dam is referred to as the Champion Dam in official documentation.[citation needed]

Construction of the structure was begun by the Watab Pulp and Paper Company in 1907 and finished in 1911. Seven workers died during construction, most from drowning as a result of washouts on the site's cofferdam. A cave-in on the dam's west end also killed the son of the project's foreman.[1]

The dam was constructed of wooden planks, local granite, and field stones as well as 25,000 barrels concrete.

Between 1960 and 1964, the dam was rebuilt by the St. Regis Corporation which had purchased the adjoining paper mill in 1946. The mill and dam are currently owned by Verso Paper.

Construction of the dam resulted in the formation of Little Rock Lake approximately five miles (8 km) upriver. The dam itself is 20 feet tall.

[edit] References

  1. ^ (2006) History of Sartell, MN: Lumber, Paper, Valves, and Progress. City of Sartell. 

[edit] External links

Upstream:
Blanchard Dam
Locks and dams on the Mississippi River Downstream:
St. Cloud Dam