Hartley Lake dam
Hartley Lake
Hartley Lake, located in Itasca, Minnesota, is a state-regulated reservoir with a low hazard potential but a very high risk assessment. Constructed in 1938, this gravity dam stands at a height of 7.5 feet and has a structural height of 12 feet, providing a storage capacity of 1925 acre-feet. The reservoir covers an area of 318 acres and serves as a water resource for the surrounding area.
Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Hartley Lake has a controlled spillway and a fair condition assessment as of January 2018. Despite its low hazard potential, the reservoir is considered to have a very high risk due to potential factors that could impact its operation and safety. The dam's emergency action plan status and risk management measures are currently not available, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and assessment of this vital water resource in the Prairie River watershed.
The location of Hartley Lake in La Prairie, Minnesota, makes it an important feature in the local landscape, providing recreational opportunities and supporting ecological diversity. With its historical significance dating back to the Works Progress Administration era, this reservoir serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible water resource management in the face of changing climate patterns and environmental challenges.
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 Hartley Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Prairie River Near Taconite | 254 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Grand Rapids | 545 cfs | → |
| Big Fork River At Big Falls | 697 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hartley Lake.
⚓ Boat launches
More boat launches →⛺ Campgrounds
- Clubhouse Campground
- Nashwauk Campground
- Clubhouse
- Mccarthy Beach State Park Campground
- Mccarthy Beach State Park
- North Star
🛶 Paddle runs
- The Confluence Of The Prairie River To The Boundary Of Logan And Workman Townships
- Dora Lake To State Highway 6
- Lake Winnigigoshish To Blackwater Lake
- Wolf Bay Of Lake Vermilion To Section 26, T65n, R17w
- Section 26, T65n, R17w To Section 31, T66n, R17w
- Cass Lake To Lake Winnibigoshish
Track Hartley 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 Hartley Lake
Where does the data for Hartley 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 Hartley Lake.