Pierz Lake dam
Pierz Lake
Pierz Lake, located in Morrison County, Minnesota, is a state-regulated body of water managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. This gravity dam was completed in 1955 and serves a primary purpose of "Other," with a storage capacity of 3,900 acre-feet. The lake covers 189 acres and has a drainage area of 4.4 square miles, with a low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment as of the last inspection in April 2015.
Situated near Royalton, Pierz Lake's dam stands at a height of 6 feet, with a structural height of 8 feet and a hydraulic height of 4 feet. The dam stretches 118 feet in length and holds a normal storage capacity of 3,200 acre-feet. The surrounding Platte River-TR provides a picturesque backdrop to the lake, which serves as a vital resource for both water management and recreational purposes in the region. With state oversight in place for permitting, inspection, and enforcement, Pierz Lake remains a well-maintained and crucial component of the local ecosystem.
As a significant water resource in the St. Paul District, Pierz Lake offers a serene retreat for nature enthusiasts and climate advocates alike. Its buttress core type and unlisted/unknown foundation contribute to its structural integrity, ensuring the safety of nearby residents and the surrounding environment. With a history dating back to the mid-20th century, Pierz Lake continues to play a vital role in water conservation efforts and serves as a testament to sustainable water management practices in Minnesota.
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 Pierz Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River Near Royalton | 4,670 cfs | → |
| Crow Wing River Near Pillager | 1,140 cfs | → |
| Sauk River Near St. Cloud | 531 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At St. Cloud | 5,460 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Brainerd | 2,810 cfs | → |
| Long Prairie River At Long Prairie | 168 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pierz Lake.
Boat launches
- Little Falls
- Le Bourget Park
- Riverwood Drive Belle Prairie
- Great River Road 2199, Little Falls
- Forest Road 12950, Morrison County
- Benton Beach Road Benton County
Campgrounds
- Genola Park And Campground
- Pierz City Park Campground
- Pierz Park
- Charles Lindbergh State Park
- Charles A Lindbergh State Park
- Charles A. Lindbergh State Park Group Site
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Blanchard Dam To Ends One Mile Downstream From The Southern Village Boundary Of Rice
- The 25-Acre Island Just South Of Brainerd To Roscoe Island
- The Beaver Islands At St. Cloud To The Confluence Of The Clearwater River
- The Confluence Of The Clearwater River To The Northwestern Corporate Boundary Of Anoka
- The Discharge Of The Flood Diversion Channel To Riverton
Track Pierz 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 Pierz Lake
Where does the data for Pierz 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 Pierz Lake.