Hutchinson dam
Hutchinson
Hutchinson, also known as Hutchinson Dam, is a rockfill dam located in McLeod County, Minnesota. Built in 1857, this dam serves primarily for recreation purposes, with a height of 15 feet and a hydraulic height of 10.7 feet. It is situated on the Crow River South Fork and has a normal storage capacity of 1750 acre-feet, with a maximum discharge of 4030 cubic feet per second.
Managed by the local government, Hutchinson Dam is regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity. With a significant hazard potential and a very high risk assessment rating, the dam is deemed to be in satisfactory condition as of its last assessment in 2012. Despite the potential risks, Hutchinson Dam continues to provide recreational opportunities for the community and remains a vital part of the local water resource infrastructure.
As a key feature of the St. Paul District managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hutchinson Dam's historical significance and ongoing maintenance highlight the importance of balancing water resource management with environmental conservation efforts. With its notable design by BARR ENG and unique rockfill construction, Hutchinson Dam stands as a testament to the intersection of engineering ingenuity and natural resource preservation in the face of changing climate patterns and water resource demands.
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 Hutchinson -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| High Island Creek Near Henderson | 65 cfs | → |
| Crow River At Rockford | 1,640 cfs | → |
| Minnesota River Near Jordan | 7,300 cfs | → |
| Minnesota River At Morton | 3,300 cfs | → |
| Minnesota River At New Ulm | 4,050 cfs | → |
| Cottonwood River Near New Ulm | 605 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hutchinson.
Boat launches
- Mcleod County
- Meeker County
- Mn 7 Meeker County
- County Road 35 West Buffalo
- Lake Boulevard South Buffalo
- Dague Avenue Southeast 1229, Wright County
Campgrounds
- Masonic West River Park
- Masonic/West River City Park
- Piepenburg Co Park
- Piepenburg County Park
- Lake Marion Park Campground
- Lake Marion Co Park
Track Hutchinson 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 Hutchinson
Where does the data for Hutchinson 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 Significant 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 Hutchinson.