Heft Pond dam
Heft Pond
Heft Pond, located in Aitkin, Minnesota, is a private fish and wildlife pond designed by the USDA NRCS in 1968. The pond serves as a crucial habitat for various aquatic species and covers a surface area of 15 acres with a maximum storage capacity of 105 acre-feet. With a low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment rating, Heft Pond plays a significant role in the local ecosystem while posing minimal safety concerns.
The dam at Heft Pond is primarily made of earth and stone, with a height of 7 feet and a length of 600 feet. It has an uncontrolled spillway type, allowing for a maximum discharge of 40 cubic feet per second. While the pond is not state-regulated or inspected, its condition is currently not rated. Despite the lack of formal assessments, the pond continues to provide valuable ecological services and recreational opportunities for the surrounding community. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Heft Pond stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water management practices in supporting biodiversity and ecosystem resilience in the face of changing climate 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 Heft Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River At Aitkin | 2,710 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Brainerd | 3,260 cfs | → |
| Crow Wing River Near Pillager | 1,260 cfs | → |
| Kettle River Below Sandstone | 511 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Grand Rapids | 545 cfs | → |
| Snake River Near Pine City | 624 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Heft Pond.
⚓ Boat launches
- 382nd Place Aitkin County
- 362nd Place Aitkin County
- State Highway 47 Glen
- Hanging Kettle Lake Boat Launch
- 292nd Street Aitkin County
- 299th Place Aitkin County
⛺ Campgrounds
- Aitkin County Campground
- Hog's Back Beach
- Pete's Retreat Campground & Rv Park
- Cuyuna Mountain Bike Campground
- Crosby Memorial Park
- Crosby Memorial City Park Campground
🛶 Paddle runs
- The Discharge Of The Flood Diversion Channel To Riverton
- The Boundary Between Logan And Workman Townships In Aitkin County To The Dam Entrance Of The Flood Diversion Channel
- The 25-Acre Island Just South Of Brainerd To Roscoe Island
- Carlton County State Aid Highway #12 Bridge To The Site Of Old Sandstone Hydroelectric Dam
- The Site Of Old Sandstone Hydroelectric Dam To The Confluence With St. Croix River
- The Confluence Of The Prairie River To The Boundary Of Logan And Workman Townships
🛡 More reservoirs
More reservoirs →Track Heft Pond 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 Heft Pond
Where does the data for Heft Pond 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 Heft Pond.