Ness Rudlong Ellenberg Group dam
Ness Rudlong Ellenberg Group
The Ness Rudlong Ellenberg Group is a private dam located in Fillmore County, Minnesota, specifically on Kedron Creek-TR. Built in 1972 by the USDA NRCS, this earth-type dam serves the primary purpose of debris control. Standing at a height of 33 feet and stretching 500 feet in length, it has a storage capacity of 85 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.9 square miles. Despite being categorized as low hazard potential, the dam is subject to regular state inspection, enforcement, and permitting by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Ness Rudlong Ellenberg Group has a fair condition assessment and a moderate risk assessment rating of 3. Although the dam is uncontrolled in terms of spillway and outlet gates, it meets state regulatory guidelines and is equipped for emergency response with a scheduled inspection frequency of 8 years. With Congressman Jim Hagedorn representing the area, this dam plays a crucial role in protecting the local community and environment from potential flooding events. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Ness Rudlong Ellenberg Group serves as a fascinating case study of private dam management and regulatory oversight in Minnesota.
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 Ness Rudlong Ellenberg Group -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Root River Near Pilot Mound | 393 cfs | → |
| South Fork Zumbro River At Rochester | 108 cfs | → |
| Cedar River Near Austin | 161 cfs | → |
| Upper Iowa River At Bluffton | 252 cfs | → |
| Root River Near Houston | 829 cfs | → |
| South Fork Root River Near Houston | 158 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ness Rudlong Ellenberg Group.
Boat launches
- Boat Launch Olmsted County
- Miller Street Howard County
- Wapsi Great Western Line Mitchell County
- Oakland Place Northeast Austin
Campgrounds
- Bear Cave Park
- Pine Lawn City Park
- Old Campground
- Forestville State Park
- Chester Woods/Kisrow County Park
- Isinours Campsite
Fishing spots
- Bigalks Creek
- Coldwater Creek
- Dacota Street Fishing Pier
- Huff Street Fishing Pier
- Franklin St. Fishing Pier
- Pine Creek
Track Ness Rudlong Ellenberg 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 Ness Rudlong Ellenberg Group
Where does the data for Ness Rudlong Ellenberg 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 Ness Rudlong Ellenberg Group.