Blanchard Dam is a dam across the

Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the main stem, primary river of the largest drainage basin in the United States. It is the second-longest river in the United States, behind only the Missouri River, Missouri. From its traditional source of Lake Ita ...

, in Bellevue Township and Swan River Township, Morrison County, near the city of Royalton, Minnesota. Blanchard is a

hydroelectric Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is Electricity generation, electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies 15% of the world's electricity, almost 4,210 TWh in 2023, which is more than all other Renewable energ ...

station owned and operated by Minnesota Power. The dam sits slightly upriver from the former Soo Line rail bridge. The bridge now carries a recreational trail. Blanchard Dam is the tallest dam on the Mississippi River at 47 feet of water head. Because of its design, it provides the most accurate water flow statistics of the Mississippi in central Minnesota. Daily, monthly and yearly statistical data in cf/s (cubic feet per second) since 1924 are available at the

United States Geological Survey The United States Geological Survey (USGS), founded as the Geological Survey, is an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior whose work spans the disciplines of biology, geography, geology, and hydrology. The agency was founded on Mar ...

website. Blanchard Dam is also one of very few known places on earth where

Staurolite Staurolite is a reddish brown to black, mostly opaque, nesosilicate mineral with a white streak. It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system, has a Mohs hardness of 7 to 7.5 and the chemical formula: Fe2+2Al9O6(SiO4)4(O,OH)2. Magnesium, zinc ...

is found. Here, the mineral Staurolite sometimes forms cross rocks or “fairy stones”. Blanchard Dam also has Camping and Fishing sites located within 200 yards of the dam. The Soo Line recreational trail crosses the river on a bridge located about 75 yards from the dam. The bridge is suspended about 100 ft above the Mississippi River. The original bridge remains and not been rebuilt since its use by the Soo Line Railroad.

References

Dams in Minnesota United States power company dams Dams on the Mississippi River Buildings and structures in Morrison County, Minnesota Dams completed in 1925 {{US-dam-stub