The rock dam on the Big Pine River just south of Big Pine Lake came about as the result of low water levels experienced on Big Pine Lake year-over-year.  Big Pine Lake Association records indicate that members discussed taking action to this problem as far back as the 1950’s.  At that time, the west end of the lake in the vicinity of today’s Minnesota Department of Resources’ (DNR) public landing, was reportedly a meadow used for grazing cattle.  Building the rock dam transformed what was wetland, meadow, and a small lake area, into what is now a beautiful nearly 400 acre lake.