Cold Spring dam
Cold Spring
Cold Spring is a state-regulated dam located in Stearns County, Minnesota, along the Sauk River. Built in 1980 by BARR ENG, this concrete gravity dam stands at 14 feet tall and spans 140 feet in length. With a primary purpose of recreation, Cold Spring offers a storage capacity of 10,000 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 940 acres. The dam is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway and has a low hazard potential, with a satisfactory condition assessment as of September 2013.
Situated in the St. Paul District, Cold Spring provides vital recreational opportunities while also serving as an essential resource for water management in the region. Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR EWR), the dam undergoes regular inspections, permitting, and enforcement to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite its moderate risk assessment level, Cold Spring remains a valuable asset for both residents and visitors alike, offering a serene setting for outdoor activities and water-based recreation.
With its strategic location and controlled water flow, Cold Spring plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of the Sauk River and surrounding areas. As a well-maintained structure with a history of satisfactory performance, the dam stands as a testament to effective water resource management in Minnesota. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Cold Spring serves as a beacon of sustainable infrastructure that harmonizes human recreational needs with environmental stewardship.
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 Cold Spring -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sauk River Near St. Cloud | 531 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At St. Cloud | 5,460 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River Near Royalton | 4,670 cfs | → |
| Elk River Near Big Lake | 246 cfs | → |
| Long Prairie River At Long Prairie | 168 cfs | → |
| Crow River At Rockford | 1,640 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cold Spring.
Boat launches
- 3rd Street South Cold Spring
- County Road 71 20414, Stearns County
- Grand Lake Road 11330, Rockville
- Mn 22 22217, Richmond
- Big Fish Lake Road Stearns County
- 126th Avenue 17974, Stearns County
Campgrounds
- Campsite- Bicycle
- Rockville Cp - Canoe Camp
- Two Rivers Lake County Park- Bicycle Camp
- Warner Lake Cp--East Bicycle Camp
- Stanley Eddy Memorial Park Reserv (North)
- St. Cloud Clearwater Rv Park
Paddle runs
- The Beaver Islands At St. Cloud To The Confluence Of The Clearwater River
- The Confluence Of The Clearwater River To The Northwestern Corporate Boundary Of Anoka
- Blanchard Dam To Ends One Mile Downstream From The Southern Village Boundary Of Rice
More reservoirs
Track Cold Spring 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 Cold Spring
Where does the data for Cold Spring 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 Cold Spring.