Kettle Falls dam
Kettle Falls
Kettle Falls, located in International Falls, Minnesota, is a private recreational dam on the Rainy River that was completed in 1914. This buttress dam stands at 26 feet in height and stretches 130 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 702,500 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 562,000 acre-feet. The dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, attracting water resource and climate enthusiasts to its picturesque surroundings.
Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Kettle Falls is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations. With a significant hazard potential but a satisfactory condition assessment as of 2011, the dam undergoes regular inspections every four years to monitor its structural integrity. Although no emergency action plan is currently in place, the dam's risk management measures are continuously assessed to mitigate potential risks and ensure the safety of the surrounding area.
Congressional District 08's representative, Pete Stauber, oversees Kettle Falls within the St. Paul District of the US Army Corps of Engineers. While there are no associated lock structures, the dam plays a crucial role in water management and conservation efforts in the region. Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the historical significance and recreational opportunities offered by Kettle Falls, while also recognizing the importance of its regulatory oversight and maintenance practices in safeguarding the surrounding 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.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Kettle Falls -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Vermilion River Nr Crane Lake | 1,110 cfs | → |
| Gold Portage Outlet From Kabetogama Lk Nr Ray | 467 cfs | → |
| Little Fork River At Littlefork | 1,240 cfs | → |
| Basswood River Near Winton | 6,670 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kettle Falls.
Boat launches
- Mead Wood Road Saint Louis County
- Gappa Road 9929, Kabetogama
- Oberholtzer Hiking Trail Island View
- Mn 11 Island View
- County Road 96 2499, Koochiching County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Section 31, T66n, R17w To Crane Lake
- Section 26, T65n, R17w To Section 31, T66n, R17w
- Wolf Bay Of Lake Vermilion To Section 26, T65n, R17w
More reservoirs
Track Kettle Falls 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 Kettle Falls
Where does the data for Kettle Falls 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 Significant 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 Kettle Falls.