Dishpan Lake dam
Dishpan Lake
Dishpan Lake, located in Dora Lake, Minnesota, is a state-owned earth dam constructed in 1972 with a primary purpose that goes beyond traditional water resource management. This 11-foot high structure serves as a vital component in the Moose River - TR watershed, with a storage capacity of 810 acre-feet and a drainage area of 9.9 square miles. Despite its relatively low hazard potential and not being regulated by the state, Dishpan Lake plays a crucial role in the local ecosystem and water supply.
The dam, with a length of 219 feet and a structural height of 13 feet, stands as a testament to Minnesota's commitment to sustainable water management practices. With a normal storage capacity of 360 acre-feet, Dishpan Lake provides essential water storage and flood control benefits to the surrounding areas. While its condition assessment is currently rated as "Not Rated," the dam's low hazard potential and consistent inspection frequency of every 8 years ensure its continued safety and functionality for the foreseeable future.
As the only dam in the area with a core type of buttress and an unlisted/unknown foundation, Dishpan Lake presents a unique engineering challenge. Despite lacking spillway width information and emergency action plan details, the dam's historical significance and ongoing role in water resource management make it a valuable asset for the community. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Dishpan Lake offers a fascinating case study in the intersection of infrastructure, environmental stewardship, and regulatory oversight in the state of 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 Dishpan Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Fork River At Big Falls | 568 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River Near Bemidji | 234 cfs | → |
| Prairie River Near Taconite | 159 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Grand Rapids | 457 cfs | → |
| Little Fork River At Littlefork | 1,140 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dishpan Lake.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Noma Lake Campground
- T And N Inn Lodging And Campground
- Middle Pigeon Lake Campground
- Cut Foot Horse Camp
- Rising Eagle Resort
- East Seelye Bay
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Dora Lake To State Highway 6
- Lake Winnigigoshish To Blackwater Lake
- Cass Lake To Lake Winnibigoshish
- The Otter Tail Powerplant To Allen's Bay
- The Confluence Of The Prairie River To The Boundary Of Logan And Workman Townships
- The Iron Bridge Of County Road 7 To Lake Bemidji
Track Dishpan 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 Dishpan Lake
Where does the data for Dishpan 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 Dishpan Lake.