Thorson Group West dam
Thorson Group West
Thorson Group West, located in Hokah, Minnesota, is a state-owned structure designed by USDA NRCS with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Built in 1963, this earth dam stands at 31 feet tall and spans 275 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 20 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.79 square miles. The dam is situated on the Root River South Fork-TR and falls under the regulatory oversight of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Ecological Water Resources division.
With a significant hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment as of May 2015, Thorson Group West is inspected every 4 years to ensure its structural integrity and flood protection capabilities. The dam's spillway, outfitted with uncontrolled outlets, has a width of 50 feet and can handle a maximum discharge of 636 cubic feet per second. Despite its moderate risk rating, the dam has not undergone any significant modifications since its completion and remains a vital component of the flood mitigation infrastructure in Houston County, 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 Thorson Group West -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Root River Near Houston | 179 cfs | → |
| Root River Near Houston | 840 cfs | → |
| Root River Near Pilot Mound | 361 cfs | → |
| Upper Iowa River Near Dorchester | 661 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Winona | 32,600 cfs | → |
| La Crosse River Near La Crosse | 448 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Thorson Group West.
Boat launches
- River Street Dakota
- Mississippi River -- City Marina
- Mississippi River -- Green Island Ramp
- Mississippi River/Wigwam Slough -- Hunters Point Landing (South Goose Island)
- Black River - Skipper Bud's Marina
- Mississippi River/Wigwam Slough - Goose Island Boat Ramp (North)
Campgrounds
- Wet Bark Campground
- Outback Ranch
- Cushon's Peak Campground
- Houston Nature Center Trailhead Campground
- Vinegar Ridge Campground
- Beaver Creek Valley Campground
Fishing spots
- Franklin St. Fishing Pier
- Huff Street Fishing Pier
- Dacota Street Fishing Pier
- Pine Creek
- New Albin Big Lake
- Coldwater Creek
Paddle runs
- 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
- The Minnesota-Iowa State Border To Ends Near The Town Of Bluffton, Iowa
- Western Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument To Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument
Track Thorson Group West 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 Thorson Group West
Where does the data for Thorson Group West 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 Significant 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 Thorson Group West.