Green Lake dam
Green Lake
Green Lake, located in Kandiyohi, Minnesota, is a gravity dam constructed in 1938 by the Works Progress Administration. The dam stands at a height of 6.5 feet and has a structural height of 9 feet, with a length of 62 feet. It serves as a water resource regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, with a storage capacity of 11,700 acre-feet and a surface area of 5,560 acres. The dam's primary purpose is listed as "Other", and it is responsible for managing the water flow of the Crow River Middle Fork.
Despite its low hazard potential, Green Lake has not been rated for its condition assessment as of the last inspection in June 2016. The dam is under the jurisdiction of the state and is subject to permitting, inspection, and enforcement by the MNDNR EWR. With a drainage area of 149 square miles and a maximum discharge of 1,115 cubic feet per second, Green Lake plays a crucial role in water management in the region. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Green Lake an interesting and important structure to study and monitor for its impact on the local ecosystem and surrounding communities.
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 Green Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sauk River Near St. Cloud | 531 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At St. Cloud | 5,460 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River Near Royalton | 4,670 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River Near Milan | 696 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River Near Watson | 403 cfs | → |
| Minnesota River At Montevideo | 1,910 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Green Lake.
Boat launches
- 187th Avenue Northeast 8138, Kandiyohi County
- County Road 9 Northeast 19500, New London
- 132nd Avenue Northeast 4303, Kandiyohi County
- Bluefield Road Stearns County
- 88th Avenue Northeast Kandiyohi County
- Cedar Point Road 15561, Stearns County
Campgrounds
- Green Lake County Park Campground
- Diamond Lake County Park Campgrounds
- Sandy Point Park
- Lake Koronis Regional Park
- Sibley State Park Campground
- Games Lake County Park
Track Green Lake 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 Green Lake
Where does the data for Green Lake 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 Green Lake.