Ruen Pond dam
Ruen Pond
Ruen Pond, also known as H.Ruen, is a private water resource located in Fillmore, Minnesota. Managed by the USDA NRCS, this Earth-type dam was completed in 1970 for the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the Duschee Creek. Standing at 29 feet tall and 315 feet long, Ruen Pond has a storage capacity of 32 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 7 acre-feet.
The dam has a low hazard potential and is currently in fair condition, last inspected in June 2017. Despite being uncontrolled, the spillway type is considered uncontrolled, with a maximum discharge capacity of 238 cubic feet per second. While the risk assessment is moderate, the dam is regulated and inspected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, with permitting, inspection, and enforcement measures in place to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Ruen Pond serves as a fascinating example of private ownership and management of a vital flood risk reduction infrastructure in Minnesota's water landscape.
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 Ruen Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Root River Near Pilot Mound | 393 cfs | → |
| Upper Iowa River At Bluffton | 252 cfs | → |
| South Fork Root River Near Houston | 158 cfs | → |
| Root River Near Houston | 829 cfs | → |
| Upper Iowa River At Decorah | 344 cfs | → |
| Upper Iowa River Near Dorchester | 619 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ruen Pond.
Boat launches
- Miller Street Howard County
- Valley Avenue Howard County
- Boat Launch Olmsted County
- Lake Winona Bike Path Winona
Campgrounds
- Sylvan City Park
- Riverview City Campground
- Highway 250 Campground
- Eagle Cliff Campground & Lodging
- Isinours Campsite
- Fillmore County Fairgrounds Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- The Minnesota-Iowa State Border To Ends Near The Town Of Bluffton, Iowa
- The Town Of Bluffton To The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek
- The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek To Lane's Bridge
- Western Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument To Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument
Track Ruen 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 Ruen Pond
Where does the data for Ruen 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 Ruen Pond.