Elkhorn Lake Rearing Pond dam
Elkhorn Lake Rearing Pond
Located in Spicer, Minnesota, Elkhorn Lake Rearing Pond, also known as Structure No. 2, is a local government-owned facility designed by USDA NRCS. This rearing pond, situated on the Crow River Middle Fork, serves primarily for recreational purposes and was completed in 1969. With a dam height of 13 feet and a length of 170 feet, the pond has a storage capacity of 800 acre-feet and covers an area of 72 acres.
Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Elkhorn Lake Rearing Pond is regulated, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite being classified as a low hazard potential structure with fair condition assessment, the pond has a moderate risk rating due to its location and design. The last inspection in October 2017 indicated that the facility meets safety guidelines, with an inspection frequency of every 8 years.
With uncontrolled spillways and outlet gates, Elkhorn Lake Rearing Pond poses minimal risk to surrounding areas but still requires ongoing monitoring and management. As a key water resource in Kandiyohi County, this pond not only provides recreational opportunities but also contributes to the local ecosystem's health and resilience in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Elkhorn Lake Rearing Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sauk River Near St. Cloud | 480 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River Near Milan | 657 cfs | → |
| Minnesota River At Montevideo | 1,340 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River Near Watson | 400 cfs | → |
| Yellow Medicine River Near Granite Falls | 148 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At St. Cloud | 4,600 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Elkhorn Lake Rearing Pond.
Boat launches
- 132nd Avenue Northeast 4303, Kandiyohi County
- 88th Avenue Northeast Kandiyohi County
- Kandiyohi County
- 187th Avenue Northeast 8138, Kandiyohi County
- County Road 9 Northeast 19500, New London
- County Road 5 Northwest Kandiyohi County
Campgrounds
- Diamond Lake County Park Campgrounds
- Green Lake County Park Campground
- Sibley State Park Campground
- Games Lake County Park
- Sandy Point Park
- Lake Koronis Regional Park
Track Elkhorn Lake Rearing Pond 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 Elkhorn Lake Rearing Pond
Where does the data for Elkhorn Lake Rearing Pond 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 Elkhorn Lake Rearing Pond.