Crooked Creek R-4 dam
Crooked Creek R-4
Crooked Creek R-4 is a gravity dam located in Freeburg, Minnesota, with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Built in 1967 by the USDA NRCS, this structure stands at 54 feet in height and spans 616 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 450 acre-feet. The dam is state-regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its satisfactory condition.
With a significant hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, Crooked Creek R-4 plays a crucial role in managing water resources and mitigating potential flooding in the area. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, and while it has not been modified in recent years, it is subject to inspection every four years to assess its structural integrity. The surrounding community can rest assured that this dam is equipped to handle potential emergencies and maintain its flood risk reduction capabilities.
Overall, Crooked Creek R-4 stands as a vital piece of infrastructure in Houston County, Minnesota, providing essential flood protection and water resource management for the local area. As a part of the St. Paul District, this gravity dam serves as a testament to the collaborative efforts between local government agencies and the USDA NRCS in safeguarding communities against the impacts of extreme weather events and ensuring the sustainable use of water resources in the region.
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 Crooked Creek R-4 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Root River Near Houston | 182 cfs | → |
| Root River Near Houston | 850 cfs | → |
| Upper Iowa River Near Dorchester | 637 cfs | → |
| La Crosse River Near La Crosse | 397 cfs | → |
| Upper Iowa River At Bluffton | 264 cfs | → |
| Black River Near Galesville | 1,350 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Crooked Creek R-4.
Boat launches
- Mississippi River -- Stoddard Park Landing
- Millstone Landing Houston County
- Mississippi River -- Genoa Harbor
- Mississippi River -- Dairyland Power Landing - Genoa
- Voyageur Highway Houston County
- Mississippi River/Wigwam Slough -- Hunters Point Landing (South Goose Island)
Campgrounds
- Upper Reno Pack In Campground
- Hike In Site
- Reno Horse Camp
- Wildcat Park
- Camper Cabin
- Beaver Creek Valley Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek To Lane's Bridge
- The Town Of Bluffton To The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek
- 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
- The Big Green River To The River's Mouth At The Mississippi River
Track Crooked Creek R-4 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 Crooked Creek R-4
Where does the data for Crooked Creek R-4 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 Crooked Creek R-4.