Knife Falls South Channel Dam dam
Knife Falls South Channel Dam
Knife Falls South Channel Dam is a concrete gravity dam located on the St. Louis River in Scanlon, Minnesota. Built in 1922, the dam stands at 18 feet tall and spans 1644 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 1763 acre-feet. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power generation, with additional benefits for recreation in the area.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the dam has a controlled spillway with a width of 359 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 45,000 cubic feet per second. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is considered to have a very high risk due to its critical importance in managing water resources and energy production in the region. With regular state inspections and enforcement, the dam plays a crucial role in water management and climate resilience efforts in the area.
The Knife Falls South Channel Dam serves as a vital infrastructure for both energy production and recreational activities in Carlton County, Minnesota. With a rich history dating back nearly a century, the dam continues to play a crucial role in the region's water resource management. As climate change impacts continue to pose challenges, the maintenance and upkeep of this dam are essential for ensuring a sustainable and reliable water supply for the surrounding communities.
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 Knife Falls South Channel Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis River At Scanlon | 2,210 cfs | → |
| Nemadji River Near South Superior | 162 cfs | → |
| Knife River Near Two Harbors | 21 cfs | → |
| Bois Brule River At Brule | 131 cfs | → |
| St. Croix River Near Danbury | 906 cfs | → |
| Kettle River Below Sandstone | 303 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Knife Falls South Channel Dam .
Boat launches
- Midway Road Saint Louis County
- Saint Louis River -- Oliver - Sajac Memorial Park Access
- Woodstock Bay
- Saint Louis River -- Arrowhead Fishing Pier Access
- Billings Park Boat Launch
- Pokegama River -- Access
Campgrounds
- Spafford City Park Campground
- Jay Cooke State Park
- Silver Creek Backpack Campsite
- High Landing Backpack Campsite
- Ash Ridge Backpack Campsite
- Lost Lake Backpack Campsite
Paddle runs
- Upper Saint Louis
- 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
- The Boundary Between Logan And Workman Townships In Aitkin County To The Dam Entrance Of The Flood Diversion Channel
Track Knife Falls South Channel 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 Knife Falls South Channel Dam
Where does the data for Knife Falls South Channel 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 Low 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 Knife Falls South Channel Dam .