Mississippi River Lock And Dam 5 dam
Mississippi River Lock And Dam 5
Mississippi River Lock and Dam 5, also known as Pool 5, is a vital structure located in Minnesota, specifically in Winona County. Built in 1935 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, this concrete dam stands at 22 feet high and serves primarily for navigation purposes along the Mississippi River. With a controlled spillway width of 1340 feet, the dam helps maintain a constant pool level for river traffic, even during peak flows of up to 270,000 cubic feet per second. The dam features a single lock measuring 600 feet in length and 110 feet in width, facilitating the passage of vessels through the river.
Although Lock and Dam 5 is considered a moderate-risk dam by the USACE, steps are continuously being taken to reduce potential hazards. Regular inspections, maintenance, and repairs are carried out to ensure the dam's structural integrity and functionality. Identified risks include overtopping of the embankment, deteriorated auxiliary lock gates, and potential deterioration of low-flow conduits. To manage flood risks and ensure public safety, USACE collaborates with state and county emergency managers, conducts public awareness campaigns, and enforces safety measures for swimming and boating in the dam's vicinity. Overall, Lock and Dam 5 plays a crucial role in supporting navigation and recreation along the Mississippi River while maintaining public safety and minimizing potential risks.
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 5 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River At Winona | 29,300 cfs | → |
| Trempealeau River At Dodge | 793 cfs | → |
| Zumbro River At Kellogg | 1,550 cfs | → |
| Trempealeau River At Arcadia | 657 cfs | → |
| Black River Near Galesville | 1,230 cfs | → |
| Root River Near Pilot Mound | 436 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mississippi River Lock And Dam 5.
Boat launches
- Mississippi River -- Merrick Park South
- Mississippi River -- Lower Spring Lake Landing
- Mississippi River -- Upper Spring Lake Landing
- Mississippi River -- Fountain City Boat Dock
- Mississippi River -- Lower Fountain City Landing
- Mississippi River -- Belvidere Slough Landing
Campgrounds
- John Latsch State Park
- Merrick State Park Campground
- Merrick State Park
- Prairie Island Campground
- Prairie Island City Campground
- Richard J. Dorer Sf -Snake Creek
Fishing spots
- Dacota Street Fishing Pier
- Huff Street Fishing Pier
- Franklin St. Fishing Pier
- Bigalks Creek
- Coldwater Creek
- Pine Creek
Track Mississippi River Lock And Dam 5 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 5
Where does the data for Mississippi River Lock And Dam 5 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 5.