Little Bemidji Lake dam
Little Bemidji Lake
Little Bemidji Lake, located in Becker County, Minnesota, is a gravity dam with a height of 9.1 feet and a hydraulic height of 3.9 feet. Built in 1938 by the WPA-C, this dam serves various purposes, including flood control and water storage for the Otter Tail River. With a normal storage capacity of 12,480 acre-feet and a surface area of 290 acres, this dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
Although classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam at Little Bemidji Lake is considered to be in fair condition. The last inspection in July 2018 revealed that the dam meets regulatory standards set by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Despite its relatively low hazard potential, the risk assessment for this dam is rated as very high (1), indicating the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its safety and effectiveness in the face of changing climate conditions.
As a state-regulated structure with a controlled spillway and a maximum discharge capacity of 1,800 cubic feet per second, Little Bemidji Lake provides valuable insights into the intersection of water resource management and climate adaptation. With its historical significance and ongoing regulatory oversight, this dam serves as a reminder of the importance of sustainable water infrastructure in the face of a changing climate.
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 Little Bemidji Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Straight River Near Park Rapids | 46 cfs | → |
| Wild Rice River At Twin Valley | 177 cfs | → |
| Buffalo River Near Hawley | 61 cfs | → |
| Crow Wing River At Nimrod | 343 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River Near Bemidji | 234 cfs | → |
| County Ditch 65 Near Maple Bay | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Little Bemidji Lake.
Boat launches
- Hoot Owl Lake Road 10405, Clearwater County
- County Road 143 Becker County
- Pine Point
- Reservation Highway 22 12298, Clearwater County
- Sugar Maple Lane 29299, Becker County
- Mn 200 Beaulieu
Campgrounds
- Long Lake County Campground
- Hungryman Lake- Two Inlets State Forest
- Hungryman Forest Campground
- Deer Park Lake Camp Site B10
- Itasca State Park
- Waterfront Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- The Outlet Of Lake Itasca To The Iron Bridge Of County Road 7
- The Iron Bridge Of County Road 7 To Lake Bemidji
- The Otter Tail Powerplant To Allen's Bay
More reservoirs
Track Little Bemidji 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 Little Bemidji Lake
Where does the data for Little Bemidji 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 Little Bemidji Lake.