Handeen-Jahn Group Pond dam
Handeen-Jahn Group Pond
Handeen-Jahn Group Pond, located in Chippewa County, Minnesota, serves as a vital infrastructure for flood risk reduction along the Minnesota River. Constructed in 1975 by the USDA NRCS, this privately owned Earth-type dam stands at a structural height of 31 feet and spans 330 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 60 acre-feet, the pond covers a surface area of 55 acres and effectively manages water flow from a drainage area of 1 square mile.
Despite its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Handeen-Jahn Group Pond is subject to regular state regulation, inspection, and enforcement by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The dam's uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates pose moderate risks, as indicated by a risk assessment rating of 3. Emergency action plans and inundation maps are yet to be prepared, suggesting a need for enhanced risk management measures to ensure public safety and environmental protection in the event of a flood event.
In collaboration with federal and state agencies, the Natural Resources Conservation Service oversees the ongoing operation and maintenance of Handeen-Jahn Group Pond. As climate change intensifies the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, this critical water resource infrastructure plays a crucial role in safeguarding communities downstream from potential flooding. With a commitment to proactive risk mitigation strategies, the pond continues to fulfill its primary purpose of flood risk reduction while remaining an essential asset for water resource management in the region.
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 Handeen-Jahn Group Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota River At Montevideo | 1,550 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River Near Watson | 366 cfs | → |
| Minnesota River Near Lac Qui Parle | 1,240 cfs | → |
| Lac Qui Parle River Near Lac Qui Parle | 184 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River Near Milan | 507 cfs | → |
| Pomme De Terre River At Appleton | 174 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Handeen-Jahn Group Pond.
Track Handeen-Jahn Group Pond 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 Handeen-Jahn Group Pond
Where does the data for Handeen-Jahn Group Pond 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 Handeen-Jahn Group Pond.