Mississippi River Lock And Dam 7 dam
Mississippi River Lock And Dam 7
Mississippi River Lock and Dam 7, also known as Pool 7, is a federal-owned structure located in La Crescent, Minnesota. Completed in 1937, it serves primarily for navigation purposes along the Mississippi River. With a concrete dam type, Lock and Dam 7 has a hydraulic height of 25 feet and a structural height of 41 feet, providing a controlled spillway to maintain a constant pool level for river traffic at elevation 638.5.
The risk assessment for Lock and Dam 7 in 2018 identified it as a low-risk dam among over 700 dams managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Risks are primarily associated with aging miter gates in the locks and potential navigation accidents. To mitigate these risks, USACE continuously monitors and maintains the dam, prioritizing activities that reduce potential hazards. Additionally, public engagement and coordination with state and county emergency managers help raise awareness of dam-related risks and ensure public safety, particularly during river flood events.
Overall, Lock and Dam 7 plays a crucial role in maintaining navigational access along the Mississippi River, with USACE implementing risk management measures to safeguard public safety and reduce potential hazards associated with the dam. Despite identified risks, ongoing maintenance and proactive measures aim to ensure the continued functionality and safety of this important water resource infrastructure.
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 Mississippi River Lock And Dam 7 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| La Crosse River Near La Crosse | 466 cfs | → |
| Black River Near Galesville | 1,230 cfs | → |
| Root River Near Houston | 1,010 cfs | → |
| South Fork Root River Near Houston | 182 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Winona | 29,300 cfs | → |
| Trempealeau River At Dodge | 793 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mississippi River Lock And Dam 7.
Boat launches
- French Slough -- Lower French Island Spillway
- Lake Onalaska -- Nelson Park Landing
- Lake Onalaska - Mississippi River -- Fishermans Road
- Black River - Skipper Bud's Marina
- Black River/Mississippi River -- Fisherman Road Landing
- Black River/Mississippi River -- Veterans Freedom Park Landing
Campgrounds
- Great River Bluffs State Park Campground
- Cart In Sites
- Great River Bluffs State Park
- Veterans Memorial County Park & Campground
- Goose Island Campground
- Veterans Memorial Park - West Salem
Fishing spots
- Franklin St. Fishing Pier
- Huff Street Fishing Pier
- Dacota Street Fishing Pier
- New Albin Big Lake
- French Creek
- Pine Creek
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
Track Mississippi River Lock And Dam 7 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 Mississippi River Lock And Dam 7
Where does the data for Mississippi River Lock And Dam 7 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 Mississippi River Lock And Dam 7.