Zerbe Pond dam
Zerbe Pond
Zerbe Pond, located in Money Creek, Winona, Minnesota, is a private earth dam constructed in 1979 by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for flood risk reduction. The dam stands at a height of 29 feet, with a structural height of 33 feet and a storage capacity of 65 acre-feet. With a drainage area of 0.8 square miles and a maximum discharge of 434 cubic feet per second, Zerbe Pond plays a crucial role in managing water flow and mitigating flood risks in the region.
Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Division of Ecological and Water Resources (MNDNR EWR), Zerbe Pond is inspected every 8 years to ensure its structural integrity and functionality. The dam has a low hazard potential and was last assessed to be in satisfactory condition in May 2017. Despite its primary purpose of flood risk reduction, the pond also serves as a valuable resource for water storage and conservation in the area, contributing to the overall ecological balance of the region.
With its strategic location along Money Creek and its role in flood risk reduction, Zerbe Pond is a significant asset in the water management infrastructure of Winona County. As a private dam regulated by the state of Minnesota, its operations, inspections, and enforcement are overseen to ensure public safety and environmental protection. The pond's design by NRCS and its consistent maintenance demonstrate a commitment to sustainable water resource management in the region, making it a noteworthy site for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore.
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 Zerbe Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Root River Near Houston | 855 cfs | → |
| South Fork Root River Near Houston | 184 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Winona | 27,300 cfs | → |
| Trempealeau River At Dodge | 761 cfs | → |
| La Crosse River Near La Crosse | 456 cfs | → |
| Black River Near Galesville | 1,170 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Zerbe Pond.
Boat launches
- River Street Dakota
- Lake Winona Bike Path Winona
- Trempealeau River -- Perrot State Park
- Winona
- Long Lake -- Landing
Campgrounds
- Cushon's Peak Campground
- Vinegar Ridge Campground
- Houston Nature Center Trailhead Campground
- North End City Park
- Outback Ranch
- Wet Bark Campground
Fishing spots
- Franklin St. Fishing Pier
- Huff Street Fishing Pier
- Dacota Street Fishing Pier
- Pine Creek
- New Albin Big Lake
- French Creek
Paddle runs
- The Minnesota-Iowa State Border To Ends Near The Town Of Bluffton, Iowa
- The Town Of Bluffton To The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek
- The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek To Lane's Bridge
- Western Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument To Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument
Track Zerbe 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 Zerbe Pond
Where does the data for Zerbe 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 Zerbe Pond.