Flat Lake dam
Flat Lake
Flat Lake, located in Becker County, Minnesota, is a gravity-type dam completed in 1941 with a primary purpose of "Other." The dam stands at a height of 6 feet and has a structural height of 8 feet, with a length of 330 feet. It has a normal storage capacity of 5020 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 12100 acre-feet, serving a drainage area of 33.5 square miles. The reservoir covers a surface area of 1754 acres and is situated on the Egg River.
With a low hazard potential and a condition assessment of "Not Rated," Flat Lake dam has not been inspected recently and has an inspection frequency of 8 years. While the dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) prepared, it meets guidelines for risk management measures. Despite being federally owned, there are no associated federal agencies for funding, design, construction, regulation, inspections, or operations. This picturesque reservoir is a vital water resource in the region, serving various purposes while maintaining a low risk profile for the surrounding community 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 Flat Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Straight River Near Park Rapids | 46 cfs | → |
| Buffalo River Near Hawley | 45 cfs | → |
| Wild Rice River At Twin Valley | 229 cfs | → |
| Crow Wing River At Nimrod | 333 cfs | → |
| Otter Tail River Near Elizabeth | 338 cfs | → |
| Buffalo River Near Dilworth | 121 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Flat Lake.
Boat launches
- County Road 143 Becker County
- Sugar Maple Lane 29299, Becker County
- Pine Point
- Hoot Owl Lake Road 10405, Clearwater County
- Heartland Trail Detroit Lakes
- Reservation Highway 22 12298, Clearwater County
Campgrounds
- American Legion Park - Detroit Lakes
- Waterfront Park
- Wolf Lake City Campground
- Hungryman Lake- Two Inlets State Forest
- Hungryman Forest Campground
- Deer Park Lake Camp Site B10
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- The Outlet Of Lake Itasca To The Iron Bridge Of County Road 7
- The Iron Bridge Of County Road 7 To Lake Bemidji
- The Otter Tail Powerplant To Allen's Bay
More reservoirs
Track Flat Lake 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 Flat Lake
Where does the data for Flat Lake 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 Flat Lake.