Rochester begins $19 million Silver Lake dam replacement

A nearly $19 million project is currently underway to replace the Silver Lake dam in northeast Rochester, Minnesota.

Originally constructed during the Great Depression in the 1930s as a New Deal project, the dam was initially designed for recreational use by the Rochester Parks Department. In the early 1950s, ownership and operation transferred to Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) after a power plant was established adjacent to the lake, utilizing the water as a cooling reservoir for electricity production.

The structure has undergone significant changes following major flooding events. After being damaged in the 1950s, the dam was repaired and remained largely unchanged until the historic 1978 flood. During that disaster, the dam was overwhelmed because it had not been designed to withstand a 200-year flood, leading to major modifications as part of the city's extensive flood control systems for the Zumbro River and its tributaries.