Mille Lacs dam
Mille Lacs
Mille Lacs, located in Mille Lacs, Minnesota, is a state-regulated water structure owned by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR EWR). With a primary purpose of recreation, this dam on the Rum River was completed in 2015 and has a normal storage capacity of 133,000 acre-feet. It covers a surface area of 128,227 acres and serves a drainage area of 415 square miles.
The dam at Mille Lacs is classified as a buttress type, with a hydraulic height of 2.5 feet and a hazard potential rated as low. While the condition assessment is not rated, the structure undergoes inspections every 8 years to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam has a maximum storage capacity of 665,000 acre-feet and plays a crucial role in water resource management and recreational activities in the region.
In the event of any emergencies, the dam at Mille Lacs has measures in place to mitigate risks, although specific details on emergency action plans and risk assessments are not provided. Overall, Mille Lacs serves as an important water resource infrastructure for the community, providing not only recreational opportunities but also aiding in water storage and management in the region.
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 Mille Lacs -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River At Brainerd | 3,260 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Aitkin | 2,710 cfs | → |
| Crow Wing River Near Pillager | 1,260 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River Near Royalton | 5,070 cfs | → |
| Kettle River Below Sandstone | 511 cfs | → |
| Snake River Near Pine City | 624 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mille Lacs.
Boat launches
- Vineland
- White Pine Road 4855, Crow Wing County
- Crow Wing County
- Us 169;Mn 18 Garrison
- Mille Lacs County
Campgrounds
- Mille Lacs Kathio State Park -Ogechie
- Mille Lacs Kathio State Park
- Maple Grove Campground
- Father Hennepin State Park Campgrounds
- Father Hennepin State Park
- Hog's Back Beach
Paddle runs
- The 25-Acre Island Just South Of Brainerd To Roscoe Island
- The Discharge Of The Flood Diversion Channel To Riverton
- Blanchard Dam To Ends One Mile Downstream From The Southern Village Boundary Of Rice
- The Boundary Between Logan And Workman Townships In Aitkin County To The Dam Entrance Of The Flood Diversion Channel
- The Site Of Old Sandstone Hydroelectric Dam To The Confluence With St. Croix River
- The Beaver Islands At St. Cloud To The Confluence Of The Clearwater River
More reservoirs
Track Mille Lacs 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 Mille Lacs
Where does the data for Mille Lacs 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 Mille Lacs.