Ogemash dam
Ogemash
Ogemash, located in Becker County, Minnesota, is a federally-owned earth dam built in 1966 by the USF&W with a primary purpose classified as "Other." The dam, standing at a height of 8 feet and a length of 110 feet, has a storage capacity of 260 acre-feet and serves the Egg River watershed. Despite its low hazard potential, Ogemash plays a crucial role in managing water resources and mitigating flood risks in the region.
With a normal storage capacity of 72 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 200 cubic feet per second, Ogemash provides essential water management functions for the surrounding area. While the dam's condition assessment is currently listed as "Not Rated," its inspection frequency is set at 8 years. Additionally, the dam lacks an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and inundation maps, highlighting the need for improved risk management measures to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the structure.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and extreme weather events become more frequent, the role of dams like Ogemash in flood control and water supply management becomes increasingly vital. By staying abreast of maintenance needs, conducting regular inspections, and developing a comprehensive EAP, Ogemash can continue to fulfill its purpose of safeguarding the local community and environment from the potential risks associated with water management 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 Ogemash -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Straight River Near Park Rapids | 46 cfs | → |
| Wild Rice River At Twin Valley | 229 cfs | → |
| Buffalo River Near Hawley | 45 cfs | → |
| Crow Wing River At Nimrod | 333 cfs | → |
| Buffalo River Near Dilworth | 121 cfs | → |
| Otter Tail River Near Elizabeth | 338 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ogemash.
Boat launches
- County Road 143 Becker County
- Sugar Maple Lane 29299, Becker County
- Pine Point
- Hoot Owl Lake Road 10405, Clearwater County
- Reservation Highway 22 12298, Clearwater County
- Heartland Trail Detroit Lakes
Campgrounds
- American Legion Park - Detroit Lakes
- Waterfront Park
- Wolf Lake City Campground
- Hungryman Lake- Two Inlets State Forest
- Hungryman Forest Campground
- Long Lake County Campground
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 Ogemash 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 Ogemash
Where does the data for Ogemash 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 Ogemash.