Nokay Lake dam
Nokay Lake
Nokay Lake, located in Crow Wing, Minnesota, is a privately owned earth dam that was completed in 1966 with a primary purpose of "other." The dam stands at a height of 8 feet and has a hydraulic height of 1.3 feet, with a storage capacity of 120 acre-feet. The lake covers a surface area of 697 acres and has a drainage area of 24.7 square miles, with a maximum discharge rate of 29 cubic feet per second.
Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, Nokay Lake is subject to state regulation and inspection by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The dam serves as a vital structure for flood control and water resource management on the Nokasippi River, providing a critical source of water storage for the surrounding area. With its serene waters and picturesque surroundings, Nokay Lake is not only a functional dam but also a haven for water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking to explore the intersection of human infrastructure and natural beauty 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 Nokay Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River At Brainerd | 3,260 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Aitkin | 2,710 cfs | → |
| Crow Wing River Near Pillager | 1,260 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River Near Royalton | 5,070 cfs | → |
| Crow Wing River At Nimrod | 354 cfs | → |
| Long Prairie River At Long Prairie | 174 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Nokay Lake.
⚓ Boat launches
- Nokay Lake Road Deerwood
- Crow Wing County
- Town Road 213 18505, Crow Wing County
- Cr 128 21679, Crow Wing County
- Rowe Road 16623, Riverton
⛺ Campgrounds
- Crosby Memorial City Park Campground
- Crosby Memorial Park
- True North Basecamp
- Cuyuna Country State Park - Portsmouth Campground
- Cuyuna Country Sra - Portsmouth Cg
- Lum Park Campground
🛶 Paddle runs
- The 25-Acre Island Just South Of Brainerd To Roscoe Island
- The Discharge Of The Flood Diversion Channel To Riverton
- The Boundary Between Logan And Workman Townships In Aitkin County To The Dam Entrance Of The Flood Diversion Channel
- Blanchard Dam To Ends One Mile Downstream From The Southern Village Boundary Of Rice
- Carlton County State Aid Highway #12 Bridge To The Site Of Old Sandstone Hydroelectric Dam
🛡 More reservoirs
More reservoirs →Track Nokay 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 Nokay Lake
Where does the data for Nokay 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 Nokay Lake.