Sunny Hill-Upper dam
Sunny Hill-Upper
Sunny Hill-Upper is a flood risk reduction dam located in Norman County, Minnesota, along the Wild Rice River. Built in 1974 with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction, this earth dam stands at a height of 19 feet and has a storage capacity of 185 acre-feet. Managed by the local government and regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, this structure plays a vital role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
The dam has a low hazard potential and is currently assessed to be in satisfactory condition as of May 2009. With a regular inspection frequency of every 8 years, Sunny Hill-Upper is monitored to ensure its structural integrity and functionality in mitigating flood risks. The dam features buttress core types and is designed by the NRCS, showcasing a collaborative effort in water resource management for the benefit of the community.
Serving as a crucial component in the region's water resource infrastructure, Sunny Hill-Upper stands as a testament to proactive flood risk management. With its strategic location and design, this dam exemplifies the importance of sustainable water management practices in safeguarding communities against the impacts of extreme weather events and climate change.
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 Sunny Hill-Upper -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wild Rice River At Twin Valley | 200 cfs | → |
| Buffalo River Near Hawley | 47 cfs | → |
| County Ditch 65 Near Maple Bay | 1 cfs | → |
| Buffalo River Near Dilworth | 136 cfs | → |
| Wild Rice River At Hendrum | 271 cfs | → |
| County Ditch 72 (Burnham Ck) Nr. Maple Bay (Sw3) | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sunny Hill-Upper.
Boat launches
- Sugar Maple Lane 29299, Becker County
- County Road 143 Becker County
- Polk County
- Mn 200 Beaulieu
- Lake St Se 11714, Polk County
Campgrounds
- Heiberg Park
- Heiberg Park Campground
- Bosworth City Park
- Agassiz Environmental Learning Center
- Buffalo River State Park
- Hendrum Community Park Campground
Paddle runs
Track Sunny Hill-Upper 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 Sunny Hill-Upper
Where does the data for Sunny Hill-Upper 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 Sunny Hill-Upper.