Winsted Lake dam
Winsted Lake
Winsted Lake, located in McLeod County, Minnesota, is a state-regulated water resource with a dam constructed in 1954 for various purposes. This Buttress-type dam stands at a height of 7 feet and spans 46 feet in length, providing a maximum storage capacity of 3,672 acre-feet. With a surface area of 376 acres and a drainage area of 26.6 square miles, Winsted Lake plays a vital role in managing water levels and flow in the Crow River South Fork-Trout stream.
Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, Winsted Lake is subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Environmental and Water Resources division. The lake's primary purpose remains classified as "Other," reflecting its versatile role in water resource management. With a normal storage capacity of 2,448 acre-feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 520 cubic feet per second, Winsted Lake serves as a crucial component of the local ecosystem and water infrastructure in the region.
Winsted Lake's significance extends beyond its physical dimensions, as its role in flood control, water storage, and environmental management underscores the interconnectedness of water resources and climate resilience. As water resource and climate enthusiasts explore the complexities of sustainable water management, Winsted Lake stands as a tangible example of how infrastructure and natural systems can coexist to support the needs of communities and ecosystems alike.
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 Winsted Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Crow River At Rockford | 1,640 cfs | → |
| Minnesota River Near Jordan | 7,300 cfs | → |
| High Island Creek Near Henderson | 65 cfs | → |
| Elk River Near Big Lake | 246 cfs | → |
| Elm Creek Nr Champlin | 23 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Anoka | 8,090 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Winsted Lake.
Boat launches
- Meeker County
- Dague Avenue Southeast 1229, Wright County
- Dakota Rail Regional Trail;Baker-Carver Regional Trail Minnetrista
- Lake Rebecca Mtb Single-Track Independence
- Lake Boulevard South Buffalo
- County Road 35 West Buffalo
Campgrounds
- Baylor Co Park
- Baylor Regional Park Campground
- Collinwood County Park
- Oak Leaf Park
- Oak Leaf Park Campground
- Carver Park Reserve
Track Winsted 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 Winsted Lake
Where does the data for Winsted 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 Winsted Lake.