Blanchard Dam

Blanchard Dam is a dam across the Mississippi River, in Bellevue Township and Swan River Township, Morrison County, near the city of Royalton, Minnesota. Blanchard is a hydroelectric 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 website.
Blanchard Dam is also one of a very few known places on earth where Staurolite is found. Blanchard Dams Staurolite can combine to form cross rocks which are super cool stones that can be worth small amounts of money. Blanchard Dam also has Camping and Fishing within 200 yards of the dam. The Soo Line trail crosses the river about 75 Yards from the dam the bridge is suspended about 100ft from the Mississippi below it the bridge has never been rebuild from the old bridge in the Soo Line days