![Taintor Gates of the Oronoco Dam [Click here to view full size picture]](media/naturalres/tn_picture_0279.jpg)
The Lake Shady Dam is located on the middle fork of the Zumbro River on the east center part of the City of Oronoco. The dam serves primarily for recreational purposes. It is 165 feet in total width with 50 foot spillway. The control structures consist of five 20 foot wide bays containing 10 foot high taintor gates. An operators bridge crosses all five gates and allows access to the winches that open/close the gates. Discharge is controlled by regulating the opening at the bottom of the gates. The water level is maintained at 9 feet on the taintor gate during the above freezing months and is dropped to 6 feet during the below freezing months.
A wooden dam was first built on this site in 1867 and lasted until 1924, when high water from spring rains and snow melt washed away the dam. The concrete dam was started in October. 1936 and was finished in August, 1937. It creates the 179 acre Lake Shady which is located within the boundaries of Oronoco
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![Taintor Gates of the Oronoco Dam [Click here to view full size picture]](javascript:showPic(new picObj('media/naturalres/picture_0279.jpg', 'Taintor Gates of the Oronoco Dam',1024,683));)