Little Kandiyohi Lake dam
Little Kandiyohi Lake
Little Kandiyohi Lake, located in Kandiyohi, Minnesota, is a state-regulated reservoir on the Crow River South Fork with a gravity dam completed in 1941. The dam stands at a height of 9.6 feet and has a structural height of 10 feet, providing a storage capacity of 5414 acre-feet. With a normal storage capacity of 2831 acre-feet and a surface area of 1237 acres, this reservoir plays a vital role in water resource management in the region.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam at Little Kandiyohi Lake is in satisfactory condition and undergoes regular inspections by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The reservoir serves multiple purposes, including flood control and water supply, with a maximum discharge of 925 cubic feet per second. The surrounding area, including the city of Cosmos, benefits from the presence of Little Kandiyohi Lake as a reliable water source and a natural habitat for wildlife.
In the context of climate change and increasing water resource challenges, Little Kandiyohi Lake stands as a resilient infrastructure that contributes to the overall ecological and hydrological balance in the region. As enthusiasts of water resources and climate, understanding the significance of this dam and reservoir system can provide valuable insights into sustainable water management practices and the importance of maintaining and enhancing existing infrastructure to adapt to changing environmental conditions.
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 Kandiyohi Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota River At Morton | 2,450 cfs | → |
| Yellow Medicine River Near Granite Falls | 146 cfs | → |
| Redwood River Near Redwood Falls | 200 cfs | → |
| Minnesota River At Montevideo | 1,310 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River Near Watson | 396 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River Near Milan | 651 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Little Kandiyohi Lake.
Boat launches
- Kandiyohi County
- 88th Avenue Northeast Kandiyohi County
- County Road 5 Northwest Kandiyohi County
- Mn 7 Meeker County
- 132nd Avenue Northeast 4303, Kandiyohi County
- 187th Avenue Northeast 8138, Kandiyohi County
Campgrounds
- Big Kandiyohi Lake County Park East Campgrounds
- Big Kandiyohi Lake County Park West Campgrounds
- Diamond Lake County Park Campgrounds
- Grove City Park Campground
- Green Lake County Park Campground
- Sibley State Park Campground
Track Little Kandiyohi 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 Kandiyohi Lake
Where does the data for Little Kandiyohi 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 Kandiyohi Lake.