Richards Pond dam
Richards Pond
Richards Pond, located in Kanabec County, Minnesota, is a privately owned dam that serves multiple purposes including flood control and water storage. The earth dam, with a height of 12 feet and a length of 691 feet, was completed in 1967 and has a normal storage capacity of 30 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2016 rated as poor, raising concerns about its structural integrity and the need for maintenance.
Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Richards Pond is regulated, inspected, and enforced by state agencies to ensure its compliance with safety and environmental standards. The dam's location on the Knife River-TR stream contributes to its drainage area of 8.5 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 485 cubic feet per second. While the pond covers a surface area of 33 acres, its primary source agency is the state of Minnesota, indicating local oversight and responsibility.
Although Richards Pond may be classified as having a low hazard potential, its poor condition assessment underscores the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and the conservation of water resources. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, it is crucial for stakeholders to prioritize the upkeep of dams like Richards Pond to mitigate potential risks and safeguard the environment for future generations.
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 Richards Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kettle River Below Sandstone | 520 cfs | → |
| Snake River Near Pine City | 1,090 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Aitkin | 2,120 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Brainerd | 2,750 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River Near Royalton | 5,500 cfs | → |
| Crow Wing River Near Pillager | 1,720 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Richards Pond.
Campgrounds
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Fishing spots
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River runs
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About Richards Pond
Where does the data for Richards 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 below 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.
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.