Little Trout Detention No. 2 dam
Little Trout Detention No. 2
Little Trout Detention No. 2, also known as Richard Hartwick Detention, is a privately owned earth dam located in Pickwick, Minnesota. Constructed in 1972 by the USDA NRCS, this dam serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the Little Trout Creek. With a dam height of 29 feet and a length of 539 feet, it has a capacity to store 85 acre-feet of water and can handle a maximum discharge of 120 cubic feet per second.
Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, this dam is state-regulated and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and functionality. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the condition assessment of the dam was deemed satisfactory during the last inspection in May 2017. With a moderate risk rating, measures for risk management and emergency preparedness are yet to be fully documented for this structure.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Little Trout Detention No. 2 presents an opportunity to explore the intersection of infrastructure, hydrology, and environmental stewardship. As a vital component in the local flood management system, understanding the design, operation, and regulation of this dam can provide valuable insights into how human intervention shapes water dynamics in a changing climate. With its location in a picturesque setting near the Little Trout Creek, this dam serves as a tangible reminder of the intricate relationship between water resources and community resilience.
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 Little Trout Detention No. 2 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River At Winona | 29,300 cfs | → |
| Black River Near Galesville | 1,230 cfs | → |
| Root River Near Houston | 1,010 cfs | → |
| La Crosse River Near La Crosse | 466 cfs | → |
| Trempealeau River At Dodge | 793 cfs | → |
| South Fork Root River Near Houston | 182 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Little Trout Detention No. 2.
Boat launches
- Long Lake -- Landing
- Mississippi River -- Trempealeau Landing
- Mississippi River -- Round Lake -- Access
- River Street Dakota
- Trempealeau River -- Perrot State Park
- Lake Onalaska -- Brice Prairie Walk-In Access
Campgrounds
- Great River Bluffs State Park
- Cart In Sites
- Great River Bluffs State Park Campground
- Pla-Mor Campground
- Perrot State Park
- Perrot State Park Campground
Fishing spots
- Franklin St. Fishing Pier
- Huff Street Fishing Pier
- Dacota Street Fishing Pier
- New Albin Big Lake
- French Creek
- Pine Creek
Track Little Trout Detention No. 2 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 Little Trout Detention No. 2
Where does the data for Little Trout Detention No. 2 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 Little Trout Detention No. 2.