Grass Lake dam
Grass Lake
Grass Lake in Kandiyohi, Minnesota is a locally owned Earth dam with a primary purpose of serving as a Fish and Wildlife Pond. Managed by Barr Eng, this low-hazard potential structure is crucial for maintaining the ecological balance of its 625-acre normal storage area. With a storage capacity of 5161 acre-feet and located within a 16.9 square mile drainage area, Grass Lake plays a vital role in preserving the natural habitat and supporting wildlife in the region.
Despite its low hazard potential, Grass Lake is regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' Division of Ecological and Water Resources, ensuring that the dam meets state permitting, inspection, and enforcement standards. The dam's vertical lift outlet gates enable controlled water release, contributing to the overall health of the ecosystem. While the structure's condition assessment is currently not rated, regular inspections every 8 years help to monitor its performance and identify any necessary maintenance or upgrades to ensure its continued functionality.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate the significance of Grass Lake as a key component in the conservation efforts of the local government. Its strategic location and purposeful design underscore the importance of sustainable water management practices in supporting the diverse flora and fauna that rely on this vital resource. As a Fish and Wildlife Pond, Grass Lake serves as a valuable sanctuary for wildlife, contributing to the overall biodiversity and environmental resilience of the region.
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 Grass Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Medicine River Near Granite Falls | 162 cfs | → |
| Minnesota River At Montevideo | 1,530 cfs | → |
| Minnesota River At Morton | 2,590 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River Near Watson | 400 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River Near Milan | 668 cfs | → |
| Redwood River Near Redwood Falls | 142 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Grass Lake.
Boat launches
- Kandiyohi County
- County Road 5 Northwest Kandiyohi County
- 88th Avenue Northeast Kandiyohi County
- 132nd Avenue Northeast 4303, Kandiyohi County
- 187th Avenue Northeast 8138, Kandiyohi County
- County Road 9 Northeast 19500, New London
Campgrounds
- Big Kandiyohi Lake County Park East Campgrounds
- Big Kandiyohi Lake County Park West Campgrounds
- Diamond Lake County Park Campgrounds
- Green Lake County Park Campground
- Sibley State Park Campground
- Grove City Park Campground
Track Grass 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 Grass Lake
Where does the data for Grass 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 Grass Lake.