Knife Lake dam
Knife Lake
Knife Lake, located in Kanabec County, Minnesota, is a captivating fish and wildlife pond with a significant impact on the local ecosystem. Built in 1983 by the USDA NRCS, this Buttress type dam stands at a height of 21 feet and spans 725 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 11,374 acre-feet, Knife Lake covers an impressive surface area of 1,277 acres and serves as a vital habitat for numerous aquatic species.
Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Knife Lake is subject to state regulations, inspections, and enforcement to ensure its structural integrity and environmental sustainability. The dam's spillway is uncontrolled, and the hazard potential is considered significant, requiring regular inspections every four years. Despite the moderate risk assessment, the condition assessment in 2017 deemed the dam to be satisfactory, highlighting the ongoing efforts to maintain its safety and functionality for the surrounding community.
With its picturesque location along the Knife River and the dedication of various agencies in its management and upkeep, Knife Lake stands as a testament to the harmonious coexistence of water resource management and climate conservation efforts. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Knife Lake offers a prime example of how human ingenuity and environmental stewardship can work hand in hand to create a sustainable ecosystem for future generations to enjoy.
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 Knife Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Snake River Near Pine City | 624 cfs | → |
| Kettle River Below Sandstone | 511 cfs | → |
| Rum River Near St. Francis | 640 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Aitkin | 2,710 cfs | → |
| Elk River Near Big Lake | 259 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At St. Cloud | 6,080 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Knife Lake.
Boat launches
- Pomroy Beach Drive 2918, Kanabec County
- Mille Lacs County
- 1st Avenue Northeast 34, Pine City
- Pine County
Campgrounds
- Snake River County Park
- Father Hennepin State Park
- Father Hennepin State Park Campgrounds
- Maple Grove Campground
- Snake River City Campground
- Mille Lacs Kathio State Park
Paddle runs
- The Site Of Old Sandstone Hydroelectric Dam To The Confluence With St. Croix River
- Carlton County State Aid Highway #12 Bridge To The Site Of Old Sandstone Hydroelectric Dam
- The Beaver Islands At St. Cloud To The Confluence Of The Clearwater River
- The Discharge Of The Flood Diversion Channel To Riverton
- Blanchard Dam To Ends One Mile Downstream From The Southern Village Boundary Of Rice
- The Confluence Of The Clearwater River To The Northwestern Corporate Boundary Of Anoka
Track Knife 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 Knife Lake
Where does the data for Knife 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 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 Knife Lake.