Pine River Dam dam
Pine River Dam
Pine River Dam, located in Crow Wing, Minnesota, is a concrete structure completed in 1886 by the US Army Corps of Engineers. With a height of 23 feet and a length of 1553 feet, the dam serves multiple purposes including fish and wildlife pond management, flood risk reduction, navigation, recreation, and water supply. The reservoir created by Pine River Dam has a normal storage capacity of 101,340 acre-feet, providing ample opportunities for recreational activities.
Despite its age, Pine River Dam remains a vital asset for the surrounding communities, but it is classified with a high hazard potential and very high risk assessment. The US Army Corps of Engineers continuously monitors and manages flood risks associated with the dam by prioritizing maintenance activities, engaging with local emergency managers, and regularly updating the emergency action plan. With a focus on public safety and environmental protection, the Corps ensures that the dam is structurally sound and ready to respond to any potential emergencies, making Pine River Dam a crucial water resource for 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 Pine River Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River At Brainerd | 2,630 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Aitkin | 2,330 cfs | → |
| Crow Wing River Near Pillager | 1,060 cfs | → |
| Crow Wing River At Nimrod | 349 cfs | → |
| Straight River Near Park Rapids | 45 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Grand Rapids | 580 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pine River Dam.
Boat launches
- Ruttger Road 7907, Crow Wing County
- County Road 109 Crow Wing County
- Red Cedar Lodge Drive Crow Wing County
- Lower Hay Access Crow Wing County
- County Road 116 Crow Wing County
- Red Pine Drive Breezy Point
Campgrounds
- Us Army Corps Of Engineers Campground
- Ronald Cloutier - Cross Lake
- Greer Lake Campground
- Pine River Bike Cg - Dnr
- Cuyuna Mountain Bike Campground
- Clint Converse - Land Olakes State Forest
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- The Discharge Of The Flood Diversion Channel To Riverton
- The 25-Acre Island Just South Of Brainerd To Roscoe Island
- The Boundary Between Logan And Workman Townships In Aitkin County To The Dam Entrance Of The Flood Diversion Channel
- The Confluence Of The Prairie River To The Boundary Of Logan And Workman Townships
- Lake Winnigigoshish To Blackwater Lake
Track Pine River Dam 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 Pine River Dam
Where does the data for Pine River Dam 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 High 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 Pine River Dam.