Skunk Creek Dam dam
Skunk Creek Dam
Skunk Creek Dam, located in St. Louis County, Minnesota, is a key hydroelectric structure built in 1922 on the Skunk River and Whiteface River. With a dam height of 39 feet and a length of 867 feet, it provides a storage capacity of 46,900 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 4,800 acres. The dam serves multiple purposes, including hydroelectric power generation and recreational activities, making it a valuable resource in the region.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Skunk Creek Dam has a controlled spillway and two slide gates for water release. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam faces a very high risk level due to its age and condition assessment being unavailable. The dam is under state regulation and inspection by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, ensuring its safety and compliance with regulatory standards.
With its historical significance and importance in water resource management, Skunk Creek Dam remains a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts. As the dam continues to play a crucial role in hydroelectric power generation and recreational opportunities, its maintenance and risk management measures are essential to ensure its long-term sustainability and safety for the surrounding communities and environment.
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 Skunk Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Knife River Near Two Harbors | 21 cfs | → |
| St. Louis River At Scanlon | 2,210 cfs | → |
| South Kawishiwi R Abv White Iron Lake Nr Ely | 1,280 cfs | → |
| Nemadji River Near South Superior | 162 cfs | → |
| South Kawishiwi River Near Ely | 739 cfs | → |
| Kawishiwi River Near Ely | 418 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Skunk Creek Dam .
Boat launches
- Saint Louis County
- Boulder Dam Road Saint Louis County
- Miller Trunk Road Saint Louis County
- Mesabi Trail Biwabik
- Ore-Be-Gone Drive Gilbert
- Stewart Lk Road Lake County
Campgrounds
- Whiteface Back Country Campsite-West
- Whiteface Back Country Campsite-East
- Whiteface Reservoir
- Whiteface Reservoir Campground
- Whiteface Reservoir Recreation Area
- Cadotte Lake
Fishing spots
Track Skunk Creek 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 Skunk Creek Dam
Where does the data for Skunk Creek 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 Skunk Creek Dam .