Ruen Detention Group dam
Ruen Detention Group
Ruen Detention Group, located in Fillmore, Minnesota, is a privately owned structure designed by USDA NRCS to serve as a debris control dam along the Duschee Creek. Completed in 1966, this earth dam stands at a height of 29 feet and has a length of 1000 feet, with a storage capacity of 155 acre-feet and a drainage area of 2 square miles. The primary purpose of this dam is to control debris and prevent potential hazards, with the dam type classified as earth and the hazard potential assessed as low.
Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Ruen Detention Group is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state agencies, ensuring the dam's compliance with safety standards. The condition of the dam was last assessed as fair in 2017, with a moderate risk level assigned. While the dam has uncontrolled spillways and outlets, it meets the necessary guidelines for emergency action plans and risk management measures. Overall, Ruen Detention Group plays a crucial role in protecting the local community from potential flooding and debris risks, highlighting the importance of sustainable water resource management in the region.
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 Detention Group -- 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 Detention Group.
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 Detention Group 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 Detention Group
Where does the data for Ruen Detention Group 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 Detention Group.