Floodwood Lake dam
Floodwood Lake
Floodwood Lake, located in St. Louis County, Minnesota, is a gravity dam built in 1940 with a primary purpose of "Other." It stands at a height of 7.1 feet and has a structural height of 8 feet, creating a reservoir with a maximum storage capacity of 6,213 acre-feet. The dam spans 35 feet in length and covers a surface area of 341 acres, with a drainage area of 12.2 square miles.
The dam, managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state authorities. Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment in 2009, the dam undergoes inspections every 8 years to ensure its safety and functionality. With a normal storage capacity of 5,232 acre-feet, Floodwood Lake serves as a vital resource for water management in the region and plays a crucial role in flood control and ecosystem preservation along the Floodwood River.
This historic structure, designed by WPA-BC, is a key feature in the landscape of the city of Floodwood and serves as a testament to the engineering ingenuity of the past. As climate change continues to impact water resources and weather patterns, Floodwood Lake remains a critical asset for water supply and flood protection in the region, highlighting the importance of sustainable water management practices to address the challenges 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 Floodwood Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Prairie River Near Taconite | 146 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Grand Rapids | 247 cfs | → |
| St. Louis River At Scanlon | 2,210 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Aitkin | 1,440 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Floodwood Lake.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- American Legion Park - Warba
- Warba American Legion
- American Legion Park
- Jacobson Campground
- Jacobson County Campground
- Nashwauk Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- The Confluence Of The Prairie River To The Boundary Of Logan And Workman Townships
- The Boundary Between Logan And Workman Townships In Aitkin County To The Dam Entrance Of The Flood Diversion Channel
- Upper Saint Louis
- Carlton County State Aid Highway #12 Bridge To The Site Of Old Sandstone Hydroelectric Dam
- Lake Winnigigoshish To Blackwater Lake
- Dora Lake To State Highway 6
Track Floodwood 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 Floodwood Lake
Where does the data for Floodwood 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 Floodwood Lake.