Hill Lake dam
Hill Lake
Hill Lake, located in Hill City, Minnesota, is a gravity dam constructed in 1937 with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam stands at a height of 10 feet and has a hydraulic height of 0.6 feet, providing a storage capacity of 9,000 acre-feet. With a surface area of 900 acres and a drainage area of 14 square miles, Hill Lake offers a picturesque setting for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore and enjoy.
Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Hill Lake is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2009 deemed it satisfactory. With a maximum discharge capacity of 980 cubic feet per second and a controlled spillway width of 23 feet, Hill Lake is equipped to handle potential risks and emergencies, further demonstrating its commitment to safety and environmental protection.
For those interested in water resource management and climate resilience, Hill Lake presents an opportunity to appreciate the careful design and maintenance of a recreational dam in Aitkin County. With its tranquil waters, abundant wildlife, and controlled spillway system, Hill Lake serves as a model for sustainable water infrastructure in the region, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the beauty and importance of responsible water resource management.
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 Hill Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River At Grand Rapids | 580 cfs | → |
| Prairie River Near Taconite | 212 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Aitkin | 2,330 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Brainerd | 2,630 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hill Lake.
Boat launches
- 670th Street Aitkin County
- Washburn Lake Forest Road Aitkin County
- Split Hand Lake
- Smith Lake
- Pokegama Lake, Sherry's Arm
- Cowhorn Lake
Campgrounds
- Hill Lake City Park
- Land O'Lakes Sf - Baker And White Oak Lake
- Jacobson County Campground
- Jacobson Campground
- American Legion Park
- Warba American Legion
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- The Confluence Of The Prairie River To The Boundary Of Logan And Workman Townships
- The Boundary Between Logan And Workman Townships In Aitkin County To The Dam Entrance Of The Flood Diversion Channel
- The Discharge Of The Flood Diversion Channel To Riverton
- Lake Winnigigoshish To Blackwater Lake
- Carlton County State Aid Highway #12 Bridge To The Site Of Old Sandstone Hydroelectric Dam
- Cass Lake To Lake Winnibigoshish
Track Hill 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 Hill Lake
Where does the data for Hill 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 Hill Lake.