Canby R-1 dam
Canby R-1
Canby R-1, also known as Canby Creek, is a local government-owned earth dam located in Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota. Built in 1985 by the USDA NRCS, this dam serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along Canby Creek. With a height of 62 feet and a length of 4600 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 6100 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 160 acres.
Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Canby R-1 is classified as a high hazard potential dam with a satisfactory condition assessment as of March 2017. The dam has a moderate risk rating and is inspected annually to ensure its structural integrity. While it currently has no outlet gates, the dam's uncontrolled spillway has a maximum discharge capacity of 2000 cubic feet per second, providing essential flood protection for the surrounding area.
Despite its high hazard potential, Canby R-1's risk management measures are not explicitly outlined in the available data. However, its location in a regulated state like Minnesota ensures that the dam is subject to regular inspections, enforcement, and permitting to maintain public safety and environmental protection standards. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Canby R-1 represents a critical infrastructure project that plays a vital role in managing flood risks and protecting the local community from potential water-related disasters.
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 Canby R-1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lac Qui Parle River Near Lac Qui Parle | 193 cfs | → |
| Redwood River Near Marshall | 34 cfs | → |
| Minnesota River Near Lac Qui Parle | 924 cfs | → |
| Minnesota River At Montevideo | 1,340 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River Near Watson | 400 cfs | → |
| Big Sioux River Near Bruce | 265 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Canby R-1.
Boat launches
- Deuel County
- West Cottage Avenue Hendricks
- County Road 14 1104, Lincoln County
- Brookings County
- Picnic Point Road Lincoln County
Track Canby R-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 Canby R-1
Where does the data for Canby R-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 High 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 Canby R-1.