Highland Creek dam
Highland Creek
Highland Creek is a federally owned water resource located in Cass County, Minnesota. Built in 1970 by the USDA FS, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 11 feet and spans 320 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 232 acre-feet. The primary purpose of Highland Creek is listed as "Other," with a low hazard potential and a condition assessment of "Not Rated."
Situated in Wilkinson, Minnesota, Highland Creek serves as a vital structure for water management within the St. Paul District. With a drainage area of 0.6 square miles and a maximum discharge of 20 cubic feet per second, this dam plays a crucial role in regulating water flow and storage in the region. Despite its age, Highland Creek has not been subject to recent inspections, with the last recorded assessment dating back to October 1978.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Highland Creek presents an intriguing case study of a federally owned dam in a rural setting. Its significance lies in its role as a key water management structure in the region, highlighting the importance of monitoring and maintaining such infrastructure for sustainable water resource management. As discussions around climate change and water scarcity continue to gain prominence, the data on Highland Creek offers valuable insights into the complexities of managing water resources in a changing environment.
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.
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Highland Creek.
Boat launches
- Oak Point Road Northwest 12165, Cass County
- Cass County
- Heartland Trail Cass County
- 68th Avenue Northwest 13001, Cass County
- Migizi Trail Cass County
- North Shore Drive Northwest 2483, Cass County
Campgrounds
- South Pike Bay
- South Pike Bay Campground
- Cass Lake Campground Loop
- Cass Lake
- Norway Beach Recreation Area
- Norway Beach Campground Loop
Fishing spots
Track Highland Creek 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 Highland Creek
Where does the data for Highland Creek 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 Highland Creek.