Diamond Lake dam
Diamond Lake
Diamond Lake, located in Crow River, Minnesota, is a gravity dam completed in 1932 with a primary purpose of "Other." The dam stands at 7 feet tall with a length of 41 feet, providing a storage capacity of 44,908 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is in poor condition as of its last inspection in 2015. The reservoir covers an area of 1,660 acres and has a drainage area of 14.4 square miles, with a maximum discharge of 185 cubic feet per second.
Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Diamond Lake is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state agencies. The dam is situated within the jurisdiction of the state and is subject to state regulatory oversight. Although the dam's condition is assessed as poor, its emergency action plan status and risk management measures are not specified in the data. The dam's location in Kandiyohi County adds to its significance as a critical water resource in the region, serving various purposes beyond flood control and water storage.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Diamond Lake offers a fascinating case study in dam infrastructure management and the intersection of environmental stewardship and public safety. The dam's historical significance, coupled with its current condition assessment and regulatory oversight, present an opportunity to delve into the complexities of balancing water resource management with infrastructure maintenance and risk mitigation. As a key feature in the local landscape, Diamond Lake serves as a focal point for discussions on sustainable water management practices, climate resilience, and the role of state agencies in safeguarding critical water resources for future generations.
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 Diamond Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sauk River Near St. Cloud | 524 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At St. Cloud | 5,340 cfs | → |
| Minnesota River At Morton | 3,010 cfs | → |
| Yellow Medicine River Near Granite Falls | 183 cfs | → |
| Minnesota River At Montevideo | 1,630 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River Near Milan | 696 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Diamond Lake.
Boat launches
- 132nd Avenue Northeast 4303, Kandiyohi County
- 88th Avenue Northeast Kandiyohi County
- 187th Avenue Northeast 8138, Kandiyohi County
- County Road 9 Northeast 19500, New London
- Kandiyohi County
- Bluefield Road Stearns County
Campgrounds
- Diamond Lake County Park Campgrounds
- Green Lake County Park Campground
- Grove City Park Campground
- Lake Koronis Regional Park
- Sandy Point Park
- Big Kandiyohi Lake County Park East Campgrounds
Track Diamond 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 Diamond Lake
Where does the data for Diamond 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 Diamond Lake.