Sorenson Group dam
Sorenson Group
The Sorenson Group, located in Fillmore County, Minnesota, is a privately owned earth dam designed by the USDA NRCS to primarily reduce flood risks along the Root River South Branch. Completed in 1976, this buttress-core type dam stands at 26 feet high and stretches 218 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 17.6 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.4 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in mitigating potential flood hazards in the area.
Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Sorenson Group dam has a low hazard potential and is currently in fair condition as of the last inspection in April 2016. While the dam is uncontrolled regarding its spillway type and outlet gates, its risk assessment is moderate, indicating the need for continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure its effectiveness in flood risk reduction. With its strategic location in the St. Paul District and its association with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Sorenson Group dam serves as a vital water resource infrastructure in the region.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Sorenson Group dam presents an intriguing case study in dam engineering and flood risk management. Its modest size and design features offer valuable insights into the balance between water storage capacity, hydraulic efficiency, and structural integrity. As efforts to address climate change intensify, understanding the role of dams like Sorenson Group in enhancing community resilience against extreme weather events becomes increasingly important, highlighting the significance of sustainable water resource management practices in safeguarding our environment and communities for the future.
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 Sorenson Group -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Root River Near Pilot Mound | 393 cfs | → |
| Root River Near Houston | 829 cfs | → |
| South Fork Root River Near Houston | 158 cfs | → |
| Upper Iowa River At Bluffton | 252 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Winona | 29,100 cfs | → |
| Upper Iowa River At Decorah | 344 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sorenson Group.
Boat launches
- Miller Street Howard County
- Boat Launch Olmsted County
- Valley Avenue Howard County
- Lake Winona Bike Path Winona
Campgrounds
- Riverview City Campground
- Sylvan City Park
- Highway 250 Campground
- Isinours Campsite
- Eagle Cliff Campground & Lodging
- Fillmore County Fairgrounds Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Bigalks Creek
- Coldwater Creek
- Dacota Street Fishing Pier
- Huff Street Fishing Pier
- Franklin St. Fishing Pier
- Pine Creek
Track Sorenson Group 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 Sorenson Group
Where does the data for Sorenson Group 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 Sorenson Group.