Willow River dam
Willow River
Located in Willow River, Minnesota, the Willow River dam, also known as Stanton Lake, was completed in 1941 and is owned and regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. This gravity dam has a structural height of 26 feet and a length of 377 feet, providing a maximum storage capacity of 672 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 420 acre-feet. The dam is designed with a controlled spillway and features vertical lift outlet gates for water release.
With a drainage area of 118 square miles, the Willow River dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and flood control in the region. It has a significant hazard potential and is inspected every four years, with the most recent inspection in June 2015 showing a satisfactory condition assessment. The dam's risk assessment is classified as very high, emphasizing the importance of effective risk management measures to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure for the surrounding community and environment. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Willow River dam presents an intriguing case study in dam infrastructure and management practices in 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 Willow River -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kettle River Below Sandstone | 476 cfs | → |
| St. Louis River At Scanlon | 2,770 cfs | → |
| St. Croix River Near Danbury | 1,320 cfs | → |
| Snake River Near Pine City | 447 cfs | → |
| Nemadji River Near South Superior | 508 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Aitkin | 1,910 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Willow River.
Boat launches
- Chipmunk Lane Willow River
- Pine County
- 170th Place Aitkin County
- Pomroy Beach Drive 2918, Kanabec County
Campgrounds
- Gen. G C Andrews State Forest -Willow River
- Willow River - Gen Andrews State Forest
- Nature Nook
- Eagle's Nest
- Sun-Bay Mobile Court And Camping
- Red Fox Campground & Rv Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Carlton County State Aid Highway #12 Bridge To The Site Of Old Sandstone Hydroelectric Dam
- The Site Of Old Sandstone Hydroelectric Dam To The Confluence With St. Croix River
- Upper Saint Louis
- The Boundary Between Logan And Workman Townships In Aitkin County To The Dam Entrance Of The Flood Diversion Channel
- The Discharge Of The Flood Diversion Channel To Riverton
Track Willow River 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 Willow River
Where does the data for Willow River 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 Willow River.