Watopa Township No. 1 dam
Watopa Township No. 1
Watopa Township No. 1, located in Wabasha County, Minnesota, is a local government-owned earth dam designed by the USDA NRCS and regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Completed in 1976, this dam serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the Snake Creek, a tributary of the Mississippi River. With a structural height of 34 feet and a hydraulic height of 17 feet, this dam plays a crucial role in managing water levels and protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
The dam has a storage capacity of 57 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 1500 cubic feet per second. It features an uncontrolled spillway type with a width of 150 feet, and its hazard potential is classified as significant with a satisfactory condition assessment as of May 2015. The dam has been inspected regularly, with the last inspection conducted in May 2019, and it has an inspection frequency of four years to ensure its continued effectiveness in flood risk reduction. Despite being classified as having a moderate risk level, the dam's risk management measures and emergency action plan status are currently unspecified, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to safeguard this critical infrastructure.
Overall, Watopa Township No. 1 is a vital component of the water resource management infrastructure in Wabasha County, serving as a key flood risk reduction measure along the Snake Creek. As climate change continues to impact precipitation patterns and water levels, the proper maintenance and monitoring of this dam are essential to ensure its continued effectiveness in protecting the surrounding area from potential flood events. With its significant storage capacity and regulated status, this dam underscores the importance of proactive risk management and emergency preparedness in safeguarding communities and resources from the impacts of extreme weather events.
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 Watopa Township No. 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Zumbro River At Kellogg | 1,550 cfs | → |
| South Fork Zumbro River At Rochester | 108 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Winona | 29,100 cfs | → |
| Trempealeau River At Dodge | 550 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River At Durand | 5,070 cfs | → |
| Trempealeau River At Arcadia | 502 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Watopa Township No. 1.
Boat launches
- Mississippi River -- Dairyland Power Landing (Alma)
- Mississippi River -- Belvidere Slough Landing
- Mississippi River -- Alma Marina
- Mississippi River -- Indian Slough Landing
- Mississippi River -- Upper Spring Lake Landing
- Mississippi River -- Lower Spring Lake Landing
Campgrounds
- Richard J. Dorer Sf -Snake Creek
- Richard J. Dorer Sf -Zumbro Bottom Horse Camp North
- Richard J. Dorer Sf -Zumbro Bottom Horse Camp West
- Richard J. Dorer State Forest- Kruger Campground
- Carley State Park
- Group Site 1 (Grp1)
Fishing spots
- Dacota Street Fishing Pier
- Huff Street Fishing Pier
- Franklin St. Fishing Pier
- Bigalks Creek
- Coldwater Creek
Paddle runs
Track Watopa Township No. 1 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 Watopa Township No. 1
Where does the data for Watopa Township No. 1 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 Significant 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 Watopa Township No. 1.