Dead Lake East dam
Dead Lake East
Dead Lake East, located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, is a gravity dam with a core type of buttress that was completed in 1938 by the WPA-C. The dam stands at a height of 9 feet and has a hydraulic height of 1.8 feet, providing storage for up to 100,204 acre-feet of water. With a normal storage capacity of 77,080 acre-feet and a surface area of 7,534 acres, Dead Lake East plays a vital role in managing water resources in the area.
The dam, situated on County Ditch 28, serves as a crucial structure for the seasonal dwellings in the region, with a low hazard potential but a poor condition assessment as of December 2011. Despite its deteriorating state, the dam is still under state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Environmental and Water Resources division. The last inspection of Dead Lake East took place in August 2018, with a frequency of every 8 years, highlighting the need for regular monitoring and maintenance to ensure its continued functionality and safety.
As a significant piece of infrastructure in Otter Tail County, Dead Lake East faces challenges in terms of its condition and potential risks. Climate change and increasing water demands further emphasize the importance of properly managing and maintaining this dam to safeguard water resources for the community and the environment. With its historical significance and role in water resource management, Dead Lake East remains a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in sustainable infrastructure development and resilience planning.
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 Dead Lake East -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Otter Tail River Near Elizabeth | 341 cfs | → |
| Otter Tail River Bl Orwell D Nr Fergus Falls | 525 cfs | → |
| Buffalo River Near Hawley | 47 cfs | → |
| Crow Wing River At Nimrod | 343 cfs | → |
| Straight River Near Park Rapids | 46 cfs | → |
| Red River Of The North At Wahpeton | 729 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dead Lake East.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Glendalough State Park Cart-In Campgrounds
- Glendalough State Park Canoe Campsite
- Glendalough State Park Campground
- Glendalough State Park
- Maplewood State Park
- Maplewood State Park Campground
Fishing spots
Track Dead Lake East 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 Dead Lake East
Where does the data for Dead Lake East 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 Dead Lake East.