Norway Lake dam
Norway Lake
Norway Lake, located in Pine River, Minnesota, is a picturesque reservoir known for its recreational opportunities. Owned by the local government and regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, this dam was completed in 1909 and serves primarily for recreational purposes. With a dam height of 9 feet and a storage capacity of 3720 acre-feet, this earth and buttress dam creates a surface area of 500 acres and drains a 149-square mile watershed.
Despite its fair condition assessment and high hazard potential, Norway Lake remains a popular destination for water enthusiasts. Its controlled spillway and vertical lift outlet gates ensure proper water management, while the dam's very high risk assessment rating underscores the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance. With a history dating back over a century, this dam continues to be a vital resource for both residents and visitors seeking outdoor enjoyment in Cass County, Minnesota.
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 Norway Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Crow Wing River At Nimrod | 322 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Brainerd | 2,250 cfs | → |
| Crow Wing River Near Pillager | 1,070 cfs | → |
| Straight River Near Park Rapids | 44 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Aitkin | 2,040 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Grand Rapids | 489 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Norway Lake.
Boat launches
- First Street N Cass County
- Red Cedar Lodge Drive Crow Wing County
- Lower Hay Access Crow Wing County
- Upper Hay Access 4272, Crow Wing County
- Ruttger Road 7907, Crow Wing County
- Washburn Avenue Backus
Campgrounds
- Pine River Bike Cg - Dnr
- Us Army Corps Of Engineers Campground
- Ronald Cloutier - Cross Lake
- Greer Lake Campground
- Rock Lake Campground
- Gulf Lake- Cor Of Engineers Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- The 25-Acre Island Just South Of Brainerd To Roscoe Island
- The Discharge Of The Flood Diversion Channel To Riverton
- The Boundary Between Logan And Workman Townships In Aitkin County To The Dam Entrance Of The Flood Diversion Channel
- Cass Lake To Lake Winnibigoshish
- The Outlet Of Lake Itasca To The Iron Bridge Of County Road 7
- Lake Winnigigoshish To Blackwater Lake
Track Norway 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 Norway Lake
Where does the data for Norway 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 High 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 Norway Lake.