Bowstring dam
Bowstring
Bowstring Dam, located in Itasca County, Minnesota, is a Federal-owned structure that regulates the flow of the Bowstring River. Completed in 1989, this Earth-type dam stands at 8 feet tall and spans 550 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 192 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is state-regulated and undergoes regular inspections by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR EWR).
With a primary purpose classified as 'Other', Bowstring Dam serves a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. It is equipped with spillway controls and has a maximum discharge rate of 58 cubic feet per second. The dam's condition is currently 'Not Rated', with the last inspection conducted in 2007. While it meets state permitting and inspection requirements, there is no Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, highlighting a potential area for improvement in emergency preparedness.
As an important infrastructure for water management in the area, Bowstring Dam provides a glimpse into the intersection of water resource management and climate resilience. Its presence along the Bowstring River underscores the need for continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and efficiency of this vital structure in the face of changing climate patterns and increasing water demands.
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 Bowstring -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River Near Bemidji | 217 cfs | → |
| Big Fork River At Big Falls | 618 cfs | → |
| Prairie River Near Taconite | 202 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Grand Rapids | 550 cfs | → |
| Little Fork River At Littlefork | 1,240 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bowstring.
Boat launches
- Little Sand Lake
- Dora Lake
- Whitefish Lake State Water Access Site
- Clear Lake
- Squaw Lake
- Rush Island Lake
Campgrounds
- Noma Lake Campground
- T And N Inn Lodging And Campground
- Middle Pigeon Lake Campground
- Cut Foot Horse Camp
- Rising Eagle Resort
- East Seelye Bay
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Dora Lake To State Highway 6
- Lake Winnigigoshish To Blackwater Lake
- Cass Lake To Lake Winnibigoshish
- The Otter Tail Powerplant To Allen's Bay
- The Confluence Of The Prairie River To The Boundary Of Logan And Workman Townships
- The Iron Bridge Of County Road 7 To Lake Bemidji
Track Bowstring 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 Bowstring
Where does the data for Bowstring 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 Bowstring.