Balsam Lake dam
Balsam Lake
Balsam Lake, located in Becker County, Minnesota, is a Federal-owned earth dam that was completed in 1964 by the USF&W. This dam serves as a crucial structure along the Buffalo River-TR, providing storage capacity of 1435 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 178 acre-feet. With a surface area of 103 acres and a drainage area of 1.4 square miles, Balsam Lake plays a significant role in managing water resources in the region.
Despite its relatively low hazard potential, Balsam Lake has not been rated for its condition assessment. The dam stands at a height of 9 feet and stretches 50 feet in length, making it a vital component of the local water infrastructure. While it has not undergone recent inspections, the dam's emergency action plan status and risk assessment measures remain unclear. Nonetheless, Balsam Lake continues to support various purposes beyond flood control, highlighting its importance for environmental conservation and water regulation efforts.
As a key feature within the Omaha District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Balsam Lake contributes to the overall water management strategy in Minnesota. With its strategic location and design, this earth dam serves as a testament to the collaborative efforts between federal agencies and local stakeholders to safeguard water resources and mitigate potential risks. As climate change impacts become more pronounced, the role of structures like Balsam Lake in adapting to changing conditions and ensuring water security will be increasingly vital for sustaining the region's ecological balance.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Balsam Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Straight River Near Park Rapids | 44 cfs | → |
| Buffalo River Near Hawley | 52 cfs | → |
| Wild Rice River At Twin Valley | 255 cfs | → |
| Otter Tail River Near Elizabeth | 358 cfs | → |
| Crow Wing River At Nimrod | 354 cfs | → |
| Buffalo River Near Dilworth | 162 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Balsam Lake.
⚓ Boat launches
- County Road 143 Becker County
- Sugar Maple Lane 29299, Becker County
- Heartland Trail Detroit Lakes
- Pine Point
- West Lake Drive Detroit Lakes
- West Lake Drive 1360, Detroit Lakes
⛺ Campgrounds
- American Legion Park - Detroit Lakes
- Waterfront Park
- Wolf Lake City Campground
- Hungryman Lake- Two Inlets State Forest
- Hungryman Forest Campground
- Deer Park Lake Camp Site B10
🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →🛶 Paddle runs
- The Outlet Of Lake Itasca To The Iron Bridge Of County Road 7
- The Iron Bridge Of County Road 7 To Lake Bemidji
🛡 More reservoirs
More reservoirs →Track Balsam Lake in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Balsam Lake
Where does the data for Balsam Lake come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Balsam Lake.