Lake Emily dam
Lake Emily
Lake Emily in Kasota, Minnesota, is a state-owned water resource regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. This concrete dam, completed in 1939, serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a surface area of 315 acres and a normal storage capacity of 1000 acre-feet. The dam stands at a height of 8.5 feet and has a hazard potential rated as low, with a satisfactory condition assessment as of November 2015.
Located on Shanaska Creek, Lake Emily provides a serene environment for water and climate enthusiasts to explore and enjoy. With a drainage area of 1.7 square miles, the lake has a maximum storage capacity of 3000 acre-feet, making it an important water resource in Le Sueur County. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is subject to regular inspections by the state regulatory agency to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
For those interested in water management and conservation, Lake Emily offers a captivating example of how human-made structures can be utilized for both recreational and environmental purposes. With its historical significance as a Works Progress Administration project, this dam continues to play a vital role in the local ecosystem while providing opportunities for outdoor recreation and enjoyment.
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 Lake Emily -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota River At Mankato | 6,280 cfs | → |
| Le Sueur River Near Rapidan | 272 cfs | → |
| Blue Earth River Near Rapidan | 1,050 cfs | → |
| High Island Creek Near Henderson | 66 cfs | → |
| Little Cottonwood River Near Courtland | 85 cfs | → |
| Watonwan River Near Garden City | 380 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Emily.
Boat launches
- Le Sueur County
- Co Hy 15 Le Sueur County
- 271st Avenue 43335, Le Sueur County
- T-324 23201, Madison Lake
- 232nd Lane Madison Lake
- Beaver Dam Road 46328, Le Sueur County
Track Lake Emily 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 Lake Emily
Where does the data for Lake Emily 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 Lake Emily.